Why Heyward is raising his voice: ‘It’s my time’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Joc Pederson assumed the unfamiliar number that popped up on his phone screen belonged to a Cubs athletic trainer or traveling secretary. The outfielder was signing with the Cubs, but the move hadn’t yet gone public.
So, Pederson picked up the call from the Chicago number. On the other line was Jason Heyward, a five-time Gold Glover who Pederson had yet to meet.
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“I thought that was really pro,” Pederson said.
In a transition season, with a new president of baseball operations, and most of the Cubs championship core in their last year of club control, Heyward is a steadying presence. The veteran right fielder has three seasons left on his contract, plus 10-and-5 rights, which give him veto power over any proposed trade. He’s coming off the best offensive year of his Cubs tenure.
“I just think it’s my responsibility,” Heyward said of the Cubs clubhouse. “It’s my time.”
Heyward’s Game 7 rain delay speech has become the stuff of World Series legend. But most of what has the Cubs raving about Heyward as a teammate shows up in subtler ways. It’s pushing his teammates in drill work. It’s pulling guys to the side to talk one-on-one. It’s staying in right field for Alec Mills’ whole no-hitter instead of getting a rest in the late innings of the blowout. It’s calling to say, “Welcome to the team.”
Pederson wasn’t the only new Cub whose first “welcome” call came from Heyward -- lots of players just send text messages if anything, Pederson said. Heyward's offseason call list included new Cubs third base coach Willie Harris.
“When you get leadership like that from a veteran,” Cubs manager David Ross said, “one of the guys on the team making a significant amount of money, with significant hardware, playing every day with a real reputation and a leader on your team, it’s very easy for the coach to do his job. And that’s what real leadership is, is setting the example.”
Heyward was the Cubs’ nominee for the 2020 Roberto Clemente Award, for his contributions to COVID-19 relief efforts and social justice initiatives.
When protests against police brutality and racial injustice spread across the country last summer, Heyward made sure his teammates knew they could ask him questions. He became an active member of The Players Alliance.
“It was good to put things on the forefront a little bit, at times more than it had been,” Heyward said Thursday. “It was great to be able to have those conversations and get past just questions.”
Ross said Heyward’s voice has grown louder every year he’s known him. And they’ve known each other for over a decade. The two were locker mates in Atlanta when Heyward first broke into the big leagues in 2010.
“He’s a guy that respects the veterans and he always has,” Ross said of Heyward.
On those Braves teams, Heyward learned from established players like Eric Hinske, Michael Bourn, Martín Prado, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Billy Wagner.
Now, Heyward is the veteran, with 11 years in the Major Leagues and five years with the Cubs under his belt.
“Ever since he came over, he’s the best teammate we’ve ever had,” Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. “And now to grow into that leadership role, be a little more vocal, it’s just really cool to see.”
