Heyward not surprised by racial slurs: I've heard it before

After a report surfaced Tuesday that Jason Heyward was a target for racial slurs upon his return to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, the outfielder addressed the concern and made a shocking revelation.

"No," Heyward told reporters after being asked if he heard the slurs from Cardinals fans. "But honestly I wasn't really listening. Have (I) heard it before? Yes, but it's not something that you pay a lot of attention to. Just play the game."

The report from the New York Daily News on Tuesday morning suggested ESPN's microphones caught fans allegedly taunting the Chicago Cubs outfielder with the slurs during Monday's contest which included use of the "N-word."

"If it happened, it happened," Heyward said. "If it didn't, it didn't. I'm not surprised one way or the other. But it doesn’t really matter. Some people are going to say what they're going to say. There are people saying other things. There are people cussing, swearing around women and children and drinking and all that stuff. To point out one thing to me is whatever."

The 26-year-old, who spurned the Cardinals for their division rival thanks to an eight-year, $184-million contract, was greeted with a chorus of boos from some unruly fans Monday both when he was introduced during pregame and when he stepped to the plate for his first at-bat of the contest.

Heyward replied to the hostility with a helmet tip and proceeded to strikeout. He ultimately went 0-for-4 in the contest.

Chicago ends the three-game set Wednesday against the Cardinals, but are set to play six more games at Busch Stadium during the season.