When Ke’Bryan Hayes was placed on the injured list on Monday, it was the last thing the Pittsburgh Pirates needed. Not that he was mashing the ball. He wasn’t. In 2024, he’s hitting .233/.283/.290 with four home runs, 25 RBI, and 63 OPS+. All are career lows, except for the RBI. He had 11 RBI in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. His present 25 RBI is a full-season low. Even so, this latest news will have repercussions throughout the Pirates lineup and roster.
We have made the following roster moves:
• Recalled RHP Hunter Stratton from Triple-A Indianapolis
• Selected the contract of OF/1B Billy McKinney from Triple-A Indianapolis
• Placed INF Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured list
• Designated RHP Ryder Ryan for…
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 19, 2024
Hayes’s Addition to Injured List Weakens an Already-Weak Pirates Lineup
It’s lower back inflammation that’s once again keeping Hayes out of action. Since 2022, he’s been on the injured list with back issues several times. He told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he’s had difficulty turning due to a disc problem. Although Hayes hasn’t made excuses, this undoubtedly must be a factor in his underwhelming performance in 2024. Officially, Hayes is on the 10-day IL. However, one wonders whether his stay on the IL may be longer, given that the only apparent cure for this recurring issue is an extended rest period. Thus, let’s look at how this news affects the Pirates.
Replacing Hayes
On Monday, Jared Triolo was in the Pirates lineup as the starting third baseman. Defensively, the Pirates lose nothing with Triolo there. Hayes won a Gold Glove Award for his work at third base in 2023 and probably should have won one in 2022 as well. Triolo won a minor league Gold Glove for his defense at third base in 2021 while with High-A Greensboro.
Nonetheless, it’s Triolo’s offense that will be an issue. For as poorly as Hayes has performed at bat in 2024, he’s been light years better than Triolo. After a promising rookie season in 2023 when he hit .298/.388/.398, Triolo is hitting .200/.284/.284 in 2024. With Andrew McCutchen having been placed on the IL last week and Nick Gonzales there since July 28, the Pirates lineup was already suffering. On Monday, the Pirates’ Nos. 6-9 hitters were Yasmani Grandal, new addition Billy McKinney, Triolo, and Ji Hwan Bae. It was the 2024 major league debut for McKinney, a .209 lifetime hitter entering this season. Of the other three, Grandal had the highest batting average at .202.
The only other infield option for the Pirates while Hayes languishes on the injured list is light-hitting Alika Williams, who’s batting .222/.258/.317 in 26 games. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, acquired at the trade deadline, is playing second base in Gonzales’ stead and hitting well.
Gonzales to Begin Rehab
Gonzales went to Triple-A Indianapolis last week in anticipation of beginning a rehab assignment soon. That has yet to begin, but it seems he should be ready to rejoin the Pirates shortly. Due to the recent fine play by Kiner-Falefa, Gonzales’ ability to reclaim his second base spot seemed in jeopardy. With Hayes on the injured list, there will be room in the Pirates infield for both. Triolo will return to a utility role and Williams likely will be ticketed for Indy.
With the Pirates this season, Gonzales hit .258/.293/.387 with five HR and 39 RBI. That’s only major-league average offense for a second baseman, but it includes more than his fair share of big hits, as evidenced by a 0.8 WPA, a decent figure for one with just 65 games under his belt. Furthermore, he’s a big improvement over Hayes, and, as the talking heads say, will lengthen the Pirates’ lineup.
The Last Word
Until then, it’s fair to question how long the Pirates can stick with a lineup like the one posted on Monday. They entered Monday’s action 7 ½ games out of the final National League Wild Card spot with six teams ahead of them. Despite the lack of any realistic chance, general manager Ben Cherington is a Yogi Berra disciple. He’s proceeding as though it’s never over till it’s over. (What Berra actually said was, “You’re never out of it till you’re out of it.”)
Thus, it seems that Cherington prefers experienced players like Triolo and McKinney over inexperienced prospects. Hot-hitting recent acquisitions Nick Yorke and Billy Cook are tearing it up at Indianapolis. They would seem to be preferable infield alternatives. However, since acquiring them, Cherington has felt that they need more time in the minors, allowing only that they “could” help the Pirates at some point in 2024. Rightly or wrongly, Cherington believes in his plan. That could mean some frustrating days ahead for Pirates fans weary of watching a struggling offense.
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