Levine: Slowly But Surely, Jason Heyward Becoming More Comfortable

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- One question surrounding the Cubs has regarded outfielder Jason Heyward and the mechanical workings of his swing. His batting average isn't up to career standards and consistent hard contact has often been fleeting for a player who signed an eight-year, $184-million deal with the Cubs last winter.

Hitting .239 with a .670 OPS, Heyward has been open to receiving advice and guidance on improving his swing.

"From the front office to the coaching staff, they have been great about it," Heyward said of his swing path issues. "They understand things have to play out. They understand there are certain pressures. They understand with this team we are not sneaking up on anyone. It all has to play out. They know how badly my teammates and I want it.

"We all know what I am capable of. On a daily basis I come to them with things more than they come to me. They know I want to do well and help the team. The way I have been handled just makes it that much easier to work it out. The one-day-at-a-time approach has always been me. They trust me to come out every day and do my best."

Heyward admitted Wednesday that getting acquainted to his third team and third home in three consecutive seasons has been part of the challenge. After playing for Atlanta in 2014, he was traded to St. Louis ahead of the 2015 season, then signed his mega-deal with Chicago.

"It's all settling in more and more every day," Heyward said.

"It's been the same thing that I went through last year. I know I am in a good place. I knew I was in a good place last year. My thing is to get comfortable with yourself in the new place. It is now starting to happen for me."

After hitting .220 with a .604 OPS in the season's first two months, Heyward is hitting .286 with an .830 OPS in June, a month in which he's also hit three of his four homers. Through it all, he has had plenty of people to lean on to help with the adjustments and struggles.

"I am learning where and who to lean on for myself and the team, " Heyward said. "This includes where I need to be for me and for the team on the field. There are a lot of things you want to accomplish every day. I have come to depend on guys like David Ross, John Lackey, (Ben) Zobrist about being able to fit in where you can fit. Those guys have been through those things as well. Helping the group is the most important part. That is where I am trying to get comfortable for myself."

From the outside looking in, it may seem easy to adapt to a new team and city. After all, Heyward is 26 and making a ton money and has previously been considered a top player in the game. Then again, sometimes the game itself gets in the way of that simplistic theory.

Adjustments are always being made, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon has been there to help Heyward, who was banged up and slowed for a bit on a diving catch back in May. Maddon is laid-back and is always encouraging, but he also knows when to push a player's button a little more.

"For me personally, getting handled this way has been a big thing for me," Heyward said. "Coming in with the contract and another new team, his way has been very helpful for me. This way has been great for me to gradually get comfortable. The injuries I have had are just part of the game. It's been so awesome to have the daily plan so simplified. For me and all the new guys coming in and coming up now, we are helped so much by this environment Joe and the organization has created."

The pressure -- external and self-inflicted -- to live up to monster contracts is real in baseball, and it's no different for Heyward.

"I realized from day one of my career there have been a lot expectations around me personally," Heyward said. "I can work in that mode only by doing the best I can every day. This year is no different. When it comes down to a contract, you do feel like everything you do is under a microscope. That is OK, and you realize you are not alone. You have your teammates who go through it. The fans here are so supportive and have shown that win or lose, they are with you. That has been awesome to experience."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.