MLBbro Superstar Alert!! Ke’Bryan Hayes Keeps The Lights On In The Pit

MLBbro Superstar Alert!! Ke’Bryan Hayes Keeps The Lights On In The Pit

by | May 16, 2022 | THE THREE SPOT

Ke’Bryan Hayes is this generation’s next great third baseman and is earning the title of highest-paid player in Pittsburgh Pirates’ franchise history with his play through the first month and a half of the season.  

 

MLBbro Ke’Bryan Hayes Gets The Biggest Bag In Pittsburgh Pirates History | The Franchise Cornerstone Has Security

 

The hitting numbers Hayes is posting has positioned him to be the representative for Pittsburgh at this season’s All-Star Game, which would be quite an accomplishment in just his second Major League season. The son of MLBbro player Charlie Hayes would join Josh Bell and Andrew McCutchen as recent Black Pirates to obtain the honor.

 

 

Entering Sunday’s game, Hayes ranks in the top five for the National League in batting average, on base percentage and Offensive WAR. This coming after Hayes’ 2021 season was filled with injuries from the first game of the year till his last. After the second game of the season, Hayes felt a pain in his left wrist that made it difficult to grip the bat, leading to him being placed on the 60-day Injured List.

He returned to the Pirates’ lineup at the beginning of June but near the end of the season, injury struck again, leading to him being shut down in late September.

 

Don’t Even Watch Pirates Games For The Next 10 Days…Ke’Bryan Hayes Is Hurt

 

“I had to grind through it,” Hayes told reporters at the beginning of this year’s spring training. “Going into the offseason, I really wanted to forget about it and make sure that going into this next season my body is healthy for this spring training.  I’m doing good, the wrist is feeling good, so I’m ready to get rolling.”

Hayes’ bank account was one thing injuries couldn’t keep down. Not even a week into the season Pittsburgh made the 25-year-old out of Tomball, Texas the highest-paid player in their franchise history with an eight-year $70 million deal with a club option for 2030.

If Hayes can stay healthy, the deal will prove to be a bargain for the Pirates.

He did scare fans during the team’s Opening Day game this season when the third baseman appeared to re-injure that same wrist that plagued him last year in the first inning and was forced out of the game. But it was just a scare, and he didn’t miss any time from it.

Glove Love 

The one phase of Hayes’ game that may be the least surprising this season has been his play on defense.  

 

 

The three-time Minor League Gold Glove award winner currently leads all Major League third baseman in Defensive WAR and putouts by a comfortable margin.

Bat Attack 

At the plate Hayes is batting .309 with an on base percentage above .400 and a .799 OPS to go along with eight RBI and three stolen bases.

 

 

He already has seven games this season with at least two hits, a 4-for-4 game and had two consecutive 3-for-5 games, one against the Cincinnati Reds and the other coming against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pirates Playoff Push? 

Hayes has his Pirates’ record closer to the .500 mark than most thought they would be.  They are a young team with players who will continue to flow to the Bigs over the next few years, but it looks like Pittsburgh has already found they can put the franchise on Hayes’ back as they work towards getting back into the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

#HIGHFIVE: Top 5 MLBbros (Week 5)

#HIGHFIVE: Top 5 MLBbros (Week 5)

by | May 13, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

Josh Naylor etched his name into Major League Baseball’s history books Monday night by having the greatest late game performance in league history.  He is the only player to ever record eight RBI in the eighth inning or later as he carried the Guardians to one of their biggest comebacks in franchise history.  For that he takes the top spot on our Week 5 #HighFive list.

1. Josh Naylor

Josh Naylor changed the trajectory of the Guardians season with a few late inning swings Monday night leading him to the top spot on our #HighFive list.

The Guardians entered the ninth inning trailing Chicago 8-2.  After getting a few runs across the plate Naylor entered the batters with two-outs and his team trailing 8-4. On the first swing of his at-bat he launched a grand slam to right field off closer Liam Hendricks.  He shushed the crowd as he crossed home plate, clearly saving some emotion for what was to come later.

Then with the game tied at nine in the 11th, Naylor launched a two-out three-run home run to break the hearts of fans on Chicago’s Southside.

It may be the best home run celebration I have seen.  We see players showing emotion more so now than in years past, but I’m not sure any player has shown more excitement than Naylor did.

In addition to his eight RBI, Naylor also had a game-saving scoop on a throw from third base in the bottom of the ninth inning to give himself a chance at being the hero later on.

Over his last seven games Naylor is batting .417 with a .875 slugging percentage, three home runs, 14 RBI and an on base percentage over .440.

He has been up and down from the Majors to the Minors over the last few seasons, but by the way he is going this season, he won’t have to leave the Guardians locker room any time soon.

2. Mookie Betts

We are going to see MVP Mookie Betts this entire season.  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear before the season his team has one goal in mind, win their eighth World Series championship, prompting Betts to respond as the teams table setter out of the leadoff spot.

Tuesday his season long 10-game hitting streak snapped but he made up for it by nailing a runner out at home in the first inning of that same game.

His 22 runs scored is good for second in the Majors as he trails Manny Machado by one for the lead.  Over his last seven games Betts is batting .300 with seven RBI, two home runs and five runs scored helping his Dodgers get to the top of the N.L. West.

3. Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge was the first player in the Majors to reach 10 home runs and has his team with the best record in the League going into this weekend as he earns the third spot on our #HighFive list.

Judge hit the first walk-off home run Tuesday night to kickoff what would be a three-game sweep in round one of their season-long matchup with the Blue Jay.

Through his last seven games Judge is batting .259 with six RBI, three walks and two home runs.

This weekend his Yankees travel to Chicago to take on Tim Anderson and the White Sox in their first matchup since the Field of Dreams game. 

Saturday Night will be Tim Anderson bobblehead night.

4. Josh Bell

Josh Bell is making a case to be named an All-Star for the second time in his career by the way his 2022 season has started.

Josh Bell Talks The Melting Pot That Is the Washington Nationals

Bell’s .349 batting average is the third highest in the Majors and he talked with our very own Nick Hamilton last weekend about what he thought were the keys to his own success.

Through his last seven games Bell is batting .360 with a .448 on base percentage, three RBI and six runs scored.

5. Ke’Bryan Hayes

Ke’Bryan Hayes is earning the biggest contract in Pittsburgh Pirates history as he ranks in the top 10 for both WAR rating and on base percentage while being 11th in batting average.

He also leads all third baseman in Defensive WAR, but we have always acknowledged his potential to become the best defensive player in the league regardless of position.

 

Through his last seven games Hayes is batting .286 and has drawn three walks.