Jason Heyward Says Dodgers Are Embracing the World Series or Bust Pressure

Playing under a hot spotlight is nothing new for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They can see Hollywood from Chavez Ravine, after all.

They have ultimately melted under the bright lights the past couple of years, with early exits from the playoffs denying them a chance to win a World Series title since the 2020 season.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Dodgers are ready to embrace the pressure instead of crumbling beneath it.

Veteran outfielder Jason Heyward said the team is having fun with the buildup and planning to enjoy the challenges that the season might bring.

“This is exciting. It’s new. It’s unique. From the fan perspective, from a media perspective, it’s a lot of fun, a lot of really cool things to take in and see for the first time and a lot of speculation, anticipation. This year more than ever. But on the player side, we don’t look at it as a burden. In this clubhouse, we look at it as an opportunity we embrace to come to work every day and have fun with the challenges.”

— Jason Heyward via New York Post

Heyward isn’t a flashy star on this team, like Shohei Ohtani or Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman, but he has been part of a win-now mentality team desperate for a championship.

In 2016, Heyward was a member of the Chicago Cubs, a team playing under a dreaded century-long curse. He knows what it takes to win a World Series under a microscope. For the Dodgers, that’s what every game this season might feel like.

Wins will be expected and losing streaks will be examined. It’s inevitable. But, everything will be worth it in the end if the Dodgers win their first full-season World Series title since 1988.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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