Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes reaggravated his wrist injury when taking swings as part of his rehab work last night, director of sports medicine Todd Tomcyzk told reporters this morning (Twitter links via Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). He’s headed back to Pittsburgh to have the injury reevaluated. Hayes’ injury isn’t the only bit of bad news revealed by Tomczyk this morning, either, as he also announced that outfielder Jared Oliva has been diagnosed with a left oblique strain and will miss roughly four weeks of action.
A setback for Hayes is a tough blow for the Pirates, who have watched the top prospect erupt with a .367/.441/.689 start to his MLB career dating back to last season. Hayes, the No. 32 overall pick in the 2015 draft, has homered six times through his first 102 big league plate appearances, adding in seven doubles and a pair of triples. He was expected to be a bright spot on a rebuilding Pirates roster this season, but there’s obviously no timeline for his return until he undergoes a new wave of evaluation.
In Hayes’ absence, the Pirates have gotten surprising production from 28-year-old Phillip Evans, who has been on a similarly excellent hot streak dating back to last summer. Since debuting with the Pirates in 2020, the former Mets farmhand has posted a massive .320/.405/.515 batting line with five homers and four doubles through 111 trips to the plate.
Whether he can sustain that pace is obviously questionable, but at least in the short term, he’s been a nice surprise while the Bucs await Hayes’ return. Evans can’t match Hayes’ elite defensive skills at the hot corner, but if he continues anything close to this level of output, he’s versatile enough to keep a spot in the Pirates’ lineup even when Hayes is back up to full strength.
As for the 25-year-old Oliva, he’s been with the Pirates’ group at their alternate training site, so he won’t go on the Major League injured list and will instead focus on rehabbing with the team’s minor league group. He made his big league debut in 2020 and collected three hits in 16 trips to the plate, but he’s generally regarded as a mid-tier prospect for the Pirates — one who very likely will factor into their plans this season. He ranked 19th among Pirates prospects this offseason at FanGraphs and 16th at MLB.com.
Oliva hit .277/.352/.398 with six homers, 24 doubles, six triples and 36 stolen bases in a very pitcher-friendly Double-A setting back in 2019. He’s capable of playing any of the three outfield spots, and while there are concerns about his hit tool and ability to elevate the ball, he’s thought to at least be capable of serving as a reserve outfielder with an outside chance of hitting enough to be a regular. Given the lack of production the Pirates have had in center field thus far, it’s quite possible he’ll eventually get a look there. For the time being, however, Oliva’s injury ought to give a longer leash to the struggling Dustin Fowler and newly claimed Ka’ai Tom.
As if the Pirates needed to lose one of their only sheds of hope…
She’d of Hope….a very small church or maybe you’re suggesting the Pirates trade for Shed Long? ;D
Shed* damn that autocorrect!
Rather he would be having issues now and not in 2022 or 2023 when the team will be getting stronger with the younger guys with all of the talent beginning to arrive from the minors. Just hope this will not be an ongoing chronic issue for him.
It’s crazy how fragile baseball players are, I understand it’s way easier to tough out ligament injuries in other sports but this guy is prolly gonna miss half the season after diving back into 1st on a pickoff attempt smh. C’mon Ke’Bryan!
It’s because teams pamper their players WAY too much in this sport. Anytime a player is feeling sore, he doesn’t play. It makes no sense. Get out there and tough it out Nancy!
That’s a pretty simplistic view. If they have an injury, it’s natural for the body to over-compensate which could lead to different injuries.
@ rooted—I was at the game and ended up watching the replay numerous times—the hand he injured isn’t even the one he reached for the base with. Totally bizarre injury–he must have jammed he free hand hard into the dirt.
The wrists are extremely important when it comes to swinging a bat, any slight discomfort and it’s better to sit than to try to alter your swing to compensate, not to mention, Hayes looks like a franchise player so far and they’re being extremely cautious.
Besides, the Pirates are probably tanking this season and they don’t mind the extra losses.
Hey troll the bucs are 9-10. Take your trolling to the bathroom.
You really can’t mess around with wrist injuries. Those can completely mess with your swing, sap any power you have. Its always best to play cautious with those type of injuries.
Hate to see.If he out a while Pirates must get more out of OF! Where is Al Oliver? Matte Alou someone.
In the words of a Cleveland Indians Board member when discussing player acquisitions
“This guy here is dead…”
Remember when we had so many good outfielders we had to trade away Richie Zisk to make room for Omar Moreno
Yup!
“I have a question for god”
“WHY?!”
All I can hear is the Nancy Kerrigan wail of “WHY????” after she got capped in the knee…..
“Because I hate Bob Nutting!”
–HImself
Working towards that number 1 draft pick
MACLUNKEY!
Time for Connor Prielipp
He originally hurt the wrist on a swing. Nothing to do with the headfirst dive back into first base.
Probably hurt it on purpose so he doesn’t have to play for the Pirates.
Gonna be a long 5 years for him if that is the case. Controlled at basically league minimum salaries until 2026. Not going anywhere.
mlbtraderumors.com/2021/03/pirates-made-extension-…