Hayes (side) will start at third base and bat leadoff in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.
Hayes has been held out of action since March 5 due to left side tightness, but after finally resuming full baseball activities Thursday, he's now been cleared to return to the starting lineup. The 28-year-old infielder has struggled to get going this spring, posting a .583 OPS with an RBI and a run scored through seven games.
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Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Resumes full baseball activities
Rotowire
Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Thursday that Hayes (side) has resumed full baseball activities, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Tomczyk added that Hayes should be able to return to games within the next few days. Hayes hasn't participated in Grapefruit League play in more than a week due to left side tightness, but it sounds like he's getting over the hump with the injury.
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Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Nursing side injury
Rotowire
Hayes is dealing with left side tightness, which is why he hasn't played in a game since Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Hayes is expected to take part in fielding work and swing a bat Tuesday, per manager Derek Shelton, and if that goes well, he'll presumably ramp back up to game action soon. It doesn't appear as though this injury would put the third baseman in jeopardy of missing Opening Day, but his progress will be worth monitoring closely over the next few days to ensure he's able to put the issue behind him.
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Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Looks healthy for spring
Rotowire
Hayes (back) was spotted taking part in fielding drills at spring training Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Hayes didn't play after Aug. 17 last season due to a back injury that had nagged him at various points earlier in the campaign, but he avoided offseason surgery and looks to be back to full health to begin the spring. In addition to costing him considerable time in 2024, the recurring back injuries likely played a factor in Hayes' diminished production; his .573 OPS over 396 plate appearances was easily the worst mark of his five-year big-league career. If healthy, Hayes' playing time should be secure due to his elite defense at third base, but his fantasy utility will hinge on him providing the kind of pop and batting average he supplied in 2023 (15 home runs, .271 average in 525 plate appearances). Because of his poor numbers in 2024, Hayes could find himself in the bottom half of the Pittsburgh lineup to begin the upcoming season.
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Not expected back this season
Rotowire
Hayes (back) is not expected to return before the end of the 2024 season, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Assistant general manager Kevan Graves effectively closed the door on a return for Hayes, saying Sunday that he "wouldn't anticipate seeing [Hayes] competing on the field before the end of the season here," and adding that "it's just too short of a window." Hayes has been on the shelf since mid-August, and he took a massive step backward on the field this season, slashing just .233/.283/.290 across 396 plate appearances.
Hayes (back) is set to resume light baseball activity, MLB.com reports.
Hayes has been sidelined since Aug. 19 and has been working to strengthen his core for a potential return. He is expected to start playing catch soon, though his return this season appears to be in jeopardy. The team has not officially decided whether Hayes will play again in 2024.
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