Jason Heyward is poised to make his return to the San Diego Padres lineup this week after being sidelined with left knee inflammation. Padres manager Mike Shildt confirmed that Heyward could rejoin as early as Tuesday. Despite a rocky start to his tenure in San Diego, where he recorded a .190 batting average and a .541 OPS across 48 plate appearances, the team is hopeful that Heyward can contribute as he has shown signs of recovery by participating in hitting and fielding drills.

Heyward's season began with much anticipation after signing a one-year, $1 million contract with the Padres. However, his struggles mirror previous seasons, having tallied a disappointing -0.2 bWAR in just 17 games this season. With a history of up-and-down performance since his 2016 contract with the Chicago Cubs, Heyward remains a player that the Padres hope can regain form and add depth to their postseason aspirations.