Cubs' Jason Heyward hurts torso, abdominal area on diving catch

SAN FRANCISCO -- Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward will have an MRI on his right hip area Saturday after a diving catch in the deepest part of AT&T Park led to his exit from Friday night's 8-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.

The Cubs said shortly after Heyward's departure that he was being evaluated for an injury to his right torso and abdominal area. After the game, he had an ice wrap around his waist and said he was in pain but hoping for the best.

"Uncomfortable, in pain, but relieved nothing is broken," he said. "MRI tomorrow to see what else is going on in there."

Heyward tracked down leadoff hitter Denard Span's fly ball to right-center near the 421-foot sign, diving toward the wall to make the catch in the bottom of the first inning. After crashing into the wall, Heyward immediately grabbed his right side.

The Cubs' training staff came out to check on Heyward for a few minutes on the field. He walked off under his own power.

"My lower rib bone and hip bone hit each other," Heyward said. "Got pushed up against the wall, and that was it."

Heyward, a three-time Gold Glove winner, had said before the game that playing right field at AT&T Park is "always tricky."

"I knew I had a long way to run," Heyward said after the game of the catch on which he was hurt. "I knew I had the space to make the catch. You dive and catch the ball, you try not to land on your wrist."

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Heyward's catch set the tone for the win.

"That might have been the game right there," Maddon said. "As crazy as it might sound, if that falls, that's probably an inside-the-park home run, and all of a sudden they have a different vibe about them."

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta, who put on another strong performance to move to 8-0 on the season, said he was "at a loss for words" when it came to Heyward's catch.

"He's the best in the league at that," Arrieta said. "He's shown that year in and year out. He's a guy that will put his body on the line, and that's exactly what he did."

Heyward drew a walk in the first inning on a 10-pitch at-bat before leaving the game in the bottom of the frame.