Tuesday night encapsulated Ke’Bryan Hayes’ 2024 season in one game.
In the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park, Hayes had both a good and bad moment, reflecting his overall season of mixed results.
This year, Hayes has struggled more than he has succeeded, batting .241/.307/.325 with three home runs over 50 games. While he isn’t solely responsible for the Pirates’ offensive issues, he has contributed to their ranking 22nd in MLB in runs scored, averaging 4.12 per game.
For the Pirates to end their nine-year postseason drought, their offense needs improvement. Despite their 35-37 record, they are just one game out of a wild card spot in the tight National League standings.
However, significant roster upgrades are unlikely before the July 30 trade deadline due to general manager Ben Cherington’s limited budget and diminished prospect capital following recent promotions like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. Cherington also has yet to make a major trade in his five-year tenure.
The biggest boost would come from within, addressing underperformance from players like Henry Davis, Rowdy Tellez, Jared Triolo, Michael A. Taylor, Jack Suwinski, and Hayes.
Hayes, seen as a cornerstone when he signed an eight-year, $70-million contract two years ago, needs to deliver more. He has shown potential, batting .299/.335/.539 with 10 homers in the second half of last season. At 27, he should be entering his prime.
Tuesday demonstrated Hayes’ potential; he hit a home run off Reds’ left-hander Nick Lodolo, who otherwise dominated the Pirates’ lineup. However, he ended the game with a checked swing groundout against closer Alexis Diaz.
Despite hitting his first home run since April 27, Hayes was frustrated with his 1-for-4 performance.
“It felt good,” Hayes said. “Still not, I mean in my head, I just, I mean I’ll take it, but I’m just not where I want to be at the plate, obviously. I mean, it feels good to hit a home run, but I feel like my game, whenever I’m at my best, I’m hitting line drives and then the home runs come,” Hayes said. “It was good. I will take them whenever I can, but just still not happy with where I am at the plate.”
The Pirates and their fans hope Hayes can soon recapture his form from the second half of 2023, bringing success to the team in 2024.
