Cubs' Jason Heyward confident in imminent rebound amid slump

CHICAGO -- Struggling Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward didn't deny the pressure of being the new guy with a big contract is contributing to his woes, just as it did Jon Lester a year ago, but he's not willing to use that as an excuse and strongly believes better days are ahead.

"You could say it's a little bit of all of the above, but at the same time I think I was right around doing the same thing same time last year," Heyward said after the Cubs' 7-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. "It happens. I've been a slow starter. I've done that before and bounced back and no one is thinking about April and May."

Heyward had a hit and a walk Wednesday, but is batting just .212 this season. His situational numbers are especially revealing: He leads the team with 14 strikeouts with men on base and has advanced a runner from second to third with no outs only 50 percent of the time.He accomplished that at a 71 percent clip last year.

Heyward also hasn't hit a home run as a Cub yet. None of this means he's going to have a bad season, but even with a small sample size, it's not pretty.

"Timing wise is off," Heyward said. "If you're not on time, then you're not going to make the best decisions or get the most results out of your at-bats."

Heyward must have had a feeling reporters wanted to talk to him after Game 1 of Wednesday's double-header. He was about the only Cub at his locker stall after a rare defeat. He left four men on base and continues to miss making good contact, at least on fair balls.

"I see him more on time, so that's a good thing," manager Joe Maddon said. "He's hit some hard balls foul."

Heyward claims the sore right wrist that hampered him earlier this month is doing just fine, but even after taking a few days off recently to heal up, he's still not hitting the ball with authority.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, since returning to the lineup over the last week, Heyward's ground-ball rate has increased and his line-drive percentage has been cut in half compared with before he left the lineup.

"Handling failure is part of the game," Heyward said. "I just feel right now, just getting timing back ... once I get my timing back, it's going to be great.

Maddon said he believes the same and has shown no indication of dropping Heyward in the lineup; he batted second in both games Wednesday. Maddon also said he believes things are weighing on Heyward too heavily.

"Not when I talk to him," Maddon said. "The conversations are easy. The work is fine. Just a matter of time. He's gone through this before."

It's possible that Heyward is just a slow starter. Over the course of his career, his on-base percentage increases every month of the season.

He is below his normal pace right now, but that doesn't mean he can't catch up. The Cubs are winning without his offense, which Heyward said makes it an easier pill to swallow.

When asked if he's confident Heyward will break out, Maddon didn't pause.

"He will," Maddon said. "I have no doubt he will."