Heyward returns to Cubs after suffering 'scary' 1st concussion

After suffering the first concussion of his career, Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward says he's much more aware of how serious such injuries are.

Heyward, who was activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list Friday, called his concussion "scary."

"It made a believer out of me," Heyward said, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "Not that I wasn't a believer before. You feel for anyone that goes through it. That stuff is scary. You don't feel like yourself, and you don't see anything wrong with you physically, but there is something that's not right."

Heyward suffered his concussion after running into an outfield wall May 6 while attempting to track down a Dexter Fowler home run. He wound up banging his head and busting his lip during the play.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)

He didn't experience any concussion effects until a day or two later.

"I noticed my head wasn't feeling right," Heyward explained. "I wasn't going to say anything, and then eventually, I was glad I did. ...

"Day three, I woke up and I was like, 'OK, I feel good,' then I got to the field, and it was not anywhere near normal. It was frustrating. There were days where I was sad, down, but it was good to be around the guys."

Heyward returned to the Cubs' lineup Friday as a pinch hitter against the Cincinnati Reds and went 0-for-1.

The 28-year-old is hitting .224/.313/.337 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in his third season with the Cubs. He signed an eight-year, $184-million contract with Chicago before the beginning of the 2016 season.