Hayward goes 2-3 in final rehab start with South Bend Cubs

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Jason Hayward (J-Hey) showed Monday it was time for him to rejoin the big league club.

The Chicago Cubs outfielder went 2-3 with a run scored in his final rehab start with the South Bend Cubs. Hayward hit the ball hard all three times he was up and was pulled after the sixth inning.

The Georgia native is expected to join the Chicago Cubs Tuesday for their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"Yeah no setbacks for me, all signs are clear for me , I just got to wait on them [Cubs] and see," Hayward said afterwards. "Just being able to play a couple games and make the travel as easy as possible, you know it kind of would've been tough playing in Iowa or Tennessee and then trying to fly back and put me in one of those spots and get me in the lineup tomorrow and gave us the best chance and opportunity to do that. And because I had already done it once this year made it easier and like I said being back here and seeing this many fans is a lot of fun."

Heyward has been on the disabled list since mid June when he suffered a lacerated left hand diving for a ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates.