Every time the Dodgers take the field, it is pretty much a given that something exciting is going to happen with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and every fifth day Clayton Kershaw, and why wouldn’t it? All three will one day grace the sacred Halls in Cooperstown once their playing days are over, and probably the first time their respective names appear on the Hall of Fame ballot.

But with the Dodgers having just clinched their 10th National League Division title in the last 11 seasons, it’s going to take more than just these three future Hall of Famers to prevail in the 2023 NLDS, the 2023 NLCS, and (hopefully) the 2023 World Series.

Enter 34-year-old/14-year MLB veteran outfielder Jason Heyward.

Although the 6′-5″ Ridgewood, NJ native and first round draft pick in 2007 by the Atlanta Braves out of Henry County High School in McDonough, GA was slashing a respectable .254/.388/.463/.811 with eight home runs and 22 RBI at the All-Star break, he is currently slashing .313/.363/.539/.902 with six home runs and 16 RBI since the break with 14 regular-season games yet to be played.

But Wait . . . There’s More!

During the just-concluded three-game interleague series with the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park (which the Dodgers swept), ‘J-Hey’ went a ridiculous 8-for-14 (.571), with three singles, four doubles, and one home run, and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle in Sunday’s 6-1 pounding of the AL West third place Mariners.

“Just focus on not overthinking. Just do what I can to get ready to hit every pitch, make a good decision, and give myself enough time to do that,” Heyward told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson after his remarkable game on Sunday. “You know, our lineup fortunately is like come through some spots for us and keep the line moving.”

“He’s had a tremendous season, he’s an even better teammate,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Heyward postgame on Sunday. “What he’s done for our guys, veteran guys, young guys, he’s a glue guy, and right now he’s on a heater.

“He’s swinging the bat so well, he’s controlling the strike zone, and when they make a mistake or even that 3-2 split down below (on which he homered), he’s hitting it hard. He’s playing Gold Glove defense, offensively he’s a threat, and he had a huge series,” Roberts added.

As they say, ‘Timing is everything,’ and J-Hey couldn’t have picked a better time to get hot.

Play Ball!

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