The Padres are cutting ties with Jason Heyward.
The 35-year-old veteran had been rehabbing an oblique injury at Triple-A El Paso but he had not played in two days and on Saturday was designated for assignment to make room for reliever Bryan Hoeing’s return from the 60-day injured list.
Right-hander Sean Reynolds was also optioned to Triple-A El Paso to make room on the active roster.
A veteran of 16 big-league seasons and a five-time Gold Glover, Heyward signed for $1 million to team up with Connor Joe in an attempt replace All-Star Jurickson Profar in left field. But Heyward hit .176/.223/.271 in 34 games, missed time to knee inflammation and the oblique injury he was attempting to rehab over the last week with El Paso. Joe was also traded away earlier this year after spending most of the year in the minors.
Heyward was 2-for-21 with a double, an RBI, a walk and eight strikeouts in five games with the Chihuahuas before missing Thursday’s and Friday’s games.
DFA’ing Heyward essentially ends his time with the Padres and perhaps the majors as he’s hit .201/.271/.374 in 121 games since the start of the 2024 season, a far cry from his production in 2023 with the Dodgers (.269/.340/.473, 15 HRs).
Hoeing has been sidelined since spring training with a shoulder strain and had his rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso extended. He threw two scoreless innings at Double-A San Antonio and had a 5.87 Era in 7⅔ innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, although he’d closed with 4⅔ scoreless innings and threw two shutout frames in his last appearance on Wednesday.
The Padres acquired Hoeing last year at the deadline from the Marlins alongside Tanner Scott. Hoeing had a 1.52 ERA in 23 ⅔ innings after the trade.
Hoeing threw as many as 3⅔ innings in long relief, recorded more than three outs in 10 of his 18 appearances after the trade and is expected to serve the Padres’ bullpen in the same capacity now that he’s activated.
Reynolds had a 4.15 ERA in 21⅔ innings but a 2.25 ERA over 20 innings since a rocky return from the injured list at Coors Field. He has strung together 10⅔ scoreless innings when he gave up two runs one-third of an inning on Thursday in Los Angeles.
He threw 11 pitches in that game and 21 pitches in a scoreless inning on Friday.
As for Saturday’s lineup, Bryce Johnson is back in center field two days after a pitch off his right cap forced him from a game in Los Angeles. He’ll bat eighth, between Jose Iglesias and catcher Martín Maldonado.
Gearing up for Game 2. pic.twitter.com/v9EVGfa9nz
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 21, 2025
Iglesias is getting the start at third base as Manny Machado serves as the DH, while Gavin Sheets is making his 17th start in left field.
Sheets is hitting .341/.396/.488 with one homer and seven RBIs during a career-high 11 game hitting streak. His one hit on Friday briefly tied a game the Padres (40-35) went on to lose, dropping them six games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and game out of the wild-card race
Here is how the Royals (38-38), winners of four straight, will line up for Game 2:
Noah takes the bump. pic.twitter.com/3Ixy1EasOe
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 21, 2025
Saturday’s pitching matchup
Royals LHP Noah Cameron (2-2, 1.91 ERA)
The 25-year-old rookie has a 32-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 42 ⅓ innings and has allowed four home runs. Cameron has allowed one run or fewer in six of his seven starts. He has an 0.47 ERA in three road starts and has been effective against righties (.555 OPS) and lefties (.424 OPS).
Padres RHP Dylan Cease (2-6, 4.69)
He was dominant through three innings on Monday before allowing six runs over the final two innings. He struck out nine Dodgers against one walk. Cease has just five quality starts in 15 starts. The former White Sox ace has a 3.50 ERA through 16 starts against the Royals, including three runs in 5⅓ innings in a no-decision last year.
Here is how Cease has fared against current Royals:
