Ke’Bryan Hayes left today’s game against the Cubs with left wrist discomfort, per Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Chicago (via Twitter). The injury occured while diving back to the first base bag during a pickoff attempt. Hayes is a hot name coming into the season coming off a robust 1.9 bWAR/1.6 fWAR in just 95 plate appearances last season. He hit a two-run homer yesterday to affirm many who made him their pick for 2021 NL Rookie of the Year. Easily the most exciting young talent on this Pirates team, it would be quite the blow to fan morale to lose Hayes for any length of time this early in the season. [UPDATE: X-rays were negative on Hayes’ wrist, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.]
Elsewhere around the game…
- Hunter Dozier’s hand is swollen, but the Royals don’t think he’ll miss enough time to warrant a roster move, per Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). Dozier left Thursday’s opener late in the game when he right thumb swelled up as he took practice swings. Hanser Alberto was his in-game replacement, and he’s a good candidate to start games at the hot corner until Dozier is well enough to go again.
- The Nationals are exploring the market for veteran catchers, per Jon Heyman of the MLB Network (via Twitter). Jonathan Lucroy is at least one name on their radar. The Nats would appear to be relatively set at catcher with veterans Yan Gomes and Alex Avila already on the roster. It is best to avoid connecting any dots between this report and the Nats’ COVID-19 outbreak for the time being, however. Though the names of those affected have not yet been released, there’s little utility nor sensitivity in speculating. That said, the Nationals are fairly well stocked in the minors as well with Welington Castillo, Tres Barrera and Raudy Read in Triple-A, though only Barrera is currently on the 40-man roster.
Nationals should have been forced to play there triple a team this weekend.
They didn’t know how many players were positive. Had they played Mets players and staff could have gotten infected as well. It was a smart move, and not a big deal. Better to happen now than later. Mets are fine.
name is Raudy Read not Rowdy Read
Also it’s Welington Castillo not Wellington
The name is Bond, James Bond….
Please, for the love of God and everything Holy, be just a precautionary measure for Hayes.
Yea I really like that kid, deff think he’s going to be a stud and easily my pick for nl Roy. Hope he’s alright
It wasn’t when he went back to bag. Looked to me he did something during the swing before .
It happened during the at bat before. They showed the replay on the Cub’s broadcast.
Several years ago Rizzo was very interested in pursuing Lucroy, and may still consider him to offer some help to the team. It will be interesting to see if that is the case.
Dear God are the Buccos snakebit.
How exactly does one’s hand spontaneously swell up taking practice swings?
Man, the Royals offense has been scary good the first 2 games. I’m hoping they can keep it up against good teams.
I like where the Royals are headed and think they will finish third in that division.
The Rangers? That pitching staff is scary in the wrong direction.
The Rangers pitchers this year will be like the 2019 Orioles.
They will need a catcher if “ Pop Up” Avila is on the team.
“[I]t would be quite the blow to fan morale to lose Hayes for any length of time.”
Fan morale? In Pittsburgh?
I live about half an hour from Pittsburgh and I can tell you that the fan morale is pretty well zero already.
We won’t see anything resembling fan morale until the Steelers start training camp.
Sad state of affairs here already.
Bull I don’t believe that ! Fake news again. Pittsburgh has great baseball fans !
Exactly.
Mike Emrick and the other 12 people are great fans.
Forwhomthejerkbelltrolls again you are just plain dumb
It’s sad that Lucroy has been relegated to “taxi squad Catcher” at this point
Every time a pitcher gets a splinter from a bat, we hear calls for the Universal DH. So logic dictates that we begin calling for Universal Pinch Runners for young stars like Hayes who are getting hurt while running the bases.
The PIrates have the same great fans all sports teams have.FRONT RUNNERS