The Pittsburgh Pirates are still in the process of "learning more" about third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes' back injury, and there is no timetable for his return right now. The Pirates have fallen even further out of playoff contention after a sweep at the hands of the division-rival Chicago Cubs this week, so it wouldn't be a surprise at all if we didn't see Hayes at all again in 2024. The 27-year-old is on the injured list for the second time in 2024 with back issues and may need a surgical procedure, depending on what the team finds in their evaluations. Playing at less than 100% has led Hayes to regress further offensively, hitting .233/.283/.290 with only four home runs, 25 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 365 at-bats. Jared Triolo is benefitting from a starting role at third base in Pittsburgh now that Hayes is on the shelf again. The priority for the Pirates at this point is just getting Hayes healthy for 2025.
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan radio show on Sunday that he was optimistic that third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) will play again in 2024. Hayes was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 19 due to lower-back inflammation, which also kept him out in May for an 18-day stint on the IL. In his last six games, Hayes hit just .042 (1-for-24), and he's hitting .196 in the month of August. It's clear that the 27-year-old's back injury has been affecting his performance for a while. The former first-round pick's numbers have crashed hard this year and he's currently slashing .233/.283/.290 with a .573 OPS, only four home runs, 25 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 38 runs scored. It's unclear how much Hayes might play when he returns, especially if Pittsburgh is eventually eliminated from playoff contention. Hayes' injury has opened up more playing time for Jared Triolo.
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) has been placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday. It sounds like Hayes has been dealing with a lingering back issues all season long. That could explain his regression on both offense and defensively this season. Hayes will attempt to return this season, but surgery hasn't been ruled out yet. The expectation is that the red-hot Isiah Kiner-Falefa will move over to third base while Hayes is out. Jared Triolo should also see more playing time with Hayes on the shelf. Triolo isn't much of an asset offensively, but Kiner-Falefa has continued his solid play after being traded to Pittsburgh at the deadline. Kiner-Falefa is hitting .290 with eight home runs and 38 RBI in 96 games this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back), who has regressed bit time in 2024 and is hitting .233 (85-for-365) with four home runs, 25 RBI and 11 stolen bases, has been playing through debilitating back issues that he described as basically a herniated disc. "My whole issue is the disc has lost its jelly stuff," Hayes said. "When we look at the MRIs, [the discs are] just kind of compressing. I don't know that it's rubbing, but it's definitely a little collapsed to where there's pressure, inflammation builds up, and muscles want to try to protect." Among the 140 qualified position players as of Sunday, Hayes' .573 OPS was dead-last. He has one hit in his last 24 at-bats and has only 13 extra-base hits in 396 plate appearances this year. His average against fastballs has dropped from .302 last year to .211 this year. An offseason trade is unlikely because of the fact that his value is at an all-time low and he's not currently healthy.
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hayes will get a routine rest day after playing in nine straight games. During that time, Hayes struggled with a .229 batting average and two RBI. He could use a day off to get himself back on track. Jared Triolo will cover the hot corner and bat eighth versus right-hander Ryne Nelson. Hayes should be back in the lineup after this game.
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes and catcher Joey Bart will start on the bench for Tuesday's contest against the visiting division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Jared Triolo will make the start at the hot corner and bat seventh, with Yasmani Grandal doing the catching and hitting ninth against Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn. Hayes just hasn't lived up to his first-round pedigree and is currently sporting career-lows in average (.241) and OPS (.596) with only three homers, 21 RBI and eight stolen bases in 75 games played in his fifth big-league season. The good news is that he's seeing the ball better in July, batting .273 (18-for-66) with a double, two RBI and two stolen bases in 17 games. Grandal is batting .286 in his career against Lynn with a solo homer in seven at-bats, but he has little DFS upside in the nine-hole.
Ke'Bryan Hayes Resting For Second Game Of Doubleheader
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes and catcher Yasmani Grandal are both starting on the bench for the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday against the hosting Detroit Tigers. Jared Triolo will take over at third base and bat seventh, while Grant Koch will do the catching for rookie right-hander Paul Skenes while batting in the nine-hole against Tigers rookie right-hander Keider Montero, who is making his MLB debut. Hayes returned from the injured list on Tuesday and played in his first game back in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader, going 0-for-2 with a walk while playing all eight innings at the hot corner. It makes sense that the Pirates would rest the 27-year-old in the second game of their twin bill after he just returned from the IL. Hayes should be back in there to start Friday's series in Toronto against the Blue Jays.
The Pittsburgh Pirates activated third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the hosting Detroit Tigers. Hayes is back from a bout of inflammation in his lower back, and he didn't need a minor-league rehab assignment before the Pirates reinstated him. Despite an absurd spring training that suggested his breakout was on the way, the 27-year-old former top prospect is slashing a weak .240/.322/.318 with one home run, seven doubles, 11 RBI, and 15 runs scored over 149 plate appearances (34 games) in the regular season this year but should immediately resume his duties as Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman. Fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach before activating Hayes or adding him from waiver wires.
Ke'Bryan Hayes To Resume Baseball Activities On Monday
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) will resume baseball activities on Monday, according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomcyzk. The plan is for Hayes to play catch and field ground balls on Monday and then swing the bat on Tuesday. The 27-year-old landed on the injured list with a back injury that doesn't sound too serious, so as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, Hayes could be back with the Pirates before the calendar flips to June. Until Hayes is able to return, expect the Pirates to continue to lean on Jared Triolo at the hot corner. Triolo is hitting ninth for the Bucs on Friday against Chicago Cubs veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Before his injury, Hayes was hitting a modest .240/.322/.318 with only one home run and 11 RBI in 34 games played.
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a back issue, per Kevin Gorman of Tribune-Review Sports. In a corresponding move, the Pirates promoted Alika Williams from Triple-A. Hayes has posted a solid .240/.322/.318 line with only one long ball and a strong 16.1% K rate. However, Hayes has been in a bit of a slump since April 28 with a .121/.189/.152. Williams has appeared in 15 games this season and put up a modest .239/.271/.348 line. Williams may occasionally see starts at the hot corner in Hayes' absence, but a majority of the starts will go to Jared Triolo, who enters Saturday with a .210 AVG.
