{"id":647338,"date":"2026-03-27T21:15:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T21:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/647338\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T21:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T21:15:16","slug":"former-cubs-world-series-champion-retires-from-mlb-at-36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/647338\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Cubs World Series champion retires from MLB at 36"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Outfielder Jason Heyward, who won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, announced his retirement <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DWZI4U5DsOx\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:in an Instagram post;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;in an Instagram post&quot;}\" class=\"link \">in an Instagram post<\/a> March 27.<\/p>\n<p>MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/the-cubs-2016-world-series-mvp-is-giving-away-his-50000-prize\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Cubs\u2019 2016 World Series MVP is giving away his $50,000 prize;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Cubs\u2019 2016 World Series MVP is giving away his $50,000 prize&quot;}\" class=\"link \">The Cubs\u2019 2016 World Series MVP is giving away his $50,000 prize<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Heyward leaves behind a long resume as a talented hitter and outfielder. He won five Gold Glove Awards, made an All-Star team, and collected National League MVP votes in three of his 16 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/category\/mlb\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:MLB;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;MLB&quot;}\" class=\"link \">MLB<\/a> seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Heyward was an All-Star as a rookie with the Atlanta Braves in 2010. He was the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year Award and collected downballot MVP votes.<\/p>\n<p>Heyward spent his first five seasons in Atlanta before heading to St. Louis in a four-player trade in November 2014. One year later, Heyward signed an eight-year, $184 million free agent contract with the Cubs.<\/p>\n<p>Heyward failed to replicate his All-Star form at the plate in Chicago,though he didwin Gold Glove Awards in back-to-back seasons in right field (2015-16).<\/p>\n<p>Heyward\u2019s most lasting contribution to the Cubs was an inspirational pep talk he gave to teammates in the Cubs\u2019 clubhouse during a rain delay in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>After the delay, the Cubs scored two runs in the 10th inning of the game to claim their first championship since 1908.<\/p>\n<p>Heyward retires with a career slash line of .255\/.336\/.408 with the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers (2023-24), Houston Astros (2024) and San Diego Padres (2025).<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Enjoy free coverage of the top news &amp; trending stories on The Big Lead;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Enjoy free coverage of the top news &amp; trending stories on The Big Lead&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Enjoy free coverage of the top news &amp; trending stories on The Big Lead <\/a>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>MARCH MADNESS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/2026-sweet-16-tv-schedule-gate-times-dates-for-ncaa-tournament\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:2026 Sweet 16 TV schedule, game times &amp; dates for NCAA Tournament;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;2026 Sweet 16 TV schedule, game times &amp; dates for NCAA Tournament&quot;}\" class=\"link \">2026 Sweet 16 TV schedule, game times &amp; dates for NCAA Tournament<\/a><\/p>\n<p>MLB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/who-has-the-highest-opening-day-payroll-in-mlb-not-the-dodgers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Who has the highest Opening Day payroll in MLB? Not the Dodgers;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Who has the highest Opening Day payroll in MLB? Not the Dodgers&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Who has the highest Opening Day payroll in MLB? Not the Dodgers<\/a><\/p>\n<p>NFL: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/raiders-ashton-jeanty-weighs-in-fernando-mendoza-ty-simpson-debate\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Raiders\u2019 Ashton Jeanty weighs in on Fernando Mendoza-Ty Simpson debate;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Raiders\u2019 Ashton Jeanty weighs in on Fernando Mendoza-Ty Simpson debate&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Raiders\u2019 Ashton Jeanty weighs in on Fernando Mendoza-Ty Simpson debate<\/a><\/p>\n<p>SPORTS MEDIA: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/2026-mlb-opening-day-tv-schedule-full-list-of-games\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:2026 MLB Opening Day TV schedule, full list of games;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;2026 MLB Opening Day TV schedule, full list of games&quot;}\" class=\"link \">2026 MLB Opening Day TV schedule, full list of games<\/a><\/p>\n<p>ENTERTAINMENT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/2026-sports-emmy-awards-nominees-full-list-announced\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:2026 Sports Emmy Awards nominees, full list announced;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;2026 Sports Emmy Awards nominees, full list announced&quot;}\" class=\"link \">2026 Sports Emmy Awards nominees, full list announced<\/a><\/p>\n<p>VIRAL: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/best-most-outrageous-mlb-ballpark-foods-2026-season\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Best &amp; most outrageous MLB ballpark foods for 2026 season;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Best &amp; most outrageous MLB ballpark foods for 2026 season&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Best &amp; most outrageous MLB ballpark foods for 2026 season<\/a><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Outfielder Jason Heyward, who won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, announced his retirement in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":647339,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2399],"tags":[52171,46,5,160,138,24,4245,161,54306,54,873,57,4,505,18,673,1039,13770],"class_list":{"0":"post-647338","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago-cubs","8":"tag-ashton-jeanty","9":"tag-atlanta-braves","10":"tag-baseball","11":"tag-cardinals","12":"tag-chicago","13":"tag-chicago-cubs","14":"tag-chicagocubs","15":"tag-cubs","16":"tag-gold-glove-awards","17":"tag-houston-astros","18":"tag-jason-heyward","19":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","20":"tag-mlb","21":"tag-national-league","22":"tag-san-diego-padres","23":"tag-st-louis","24":"tag-world-series","25":"tag-world-series-mvp"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116303215156717431","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/647339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}