Ke’Bryan Hayes Faces Unexpected Homecoming: What His Return to Pittsburgh Means for the Playoff Race

Ke’Bryan Hayes stood at a crossroads that few saw coming when the Pittsburgh Pirates sent him packing to their NL Central rivals, the Cincinnati Reds, on July 30. Just a year earlier, Hayes seemed rooted in Pittsburgh soil—his $70 million, eight-year contract a testament to that. He even told folks, with a hopeful tone, that he dreamed of calling Pittsburgh home for his entire career. Yet, baseball’s merciless business side had a different plan.

Returning to Pittsburgh for the first time since the trade, Hayes found himself greeted not just by fans, but by a poignant tribute—a video played in his honor as the crowd rose to its feet. It was a moment thick with emotion, a nod to a Golden Glove defender and an all-around fighter who’d once been the Pirates’ shining hope despite their struggles. The contrast was stark: Pittsburgh languished with a 49-66 record, whereas Cincinnati—Hayes’ new home—was locked in a fierce battle for wild-card contention. “They welcomed me with big arms,” Hayes said, and you could almost feel the relief and renewed energy in those words.

His journey hasn’t been without bumps. Hayes, the son of former major leaguer Charlie Hayes and a 2015 first-round draft pick, shattered expectations with a dazzling .376 hitter’s debut in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. But maintaining that spark turned elusive when pitted against a full 162-game grind. This season tells a tale of two halves—.236 with the Pirates, then a modest .211 through six games with the Reds. Even so, the promise remains, simmering just beneath the surface in a game defined by peaks and valleys. LEARN MORE

PITTSBURGH — Ke’Bryan Hayes said he thought he might be in Pittsburgh to stay before the Pirates traded him July 30 to NL Central rival Cincinnati.

He returned to Pittsburgh on Thursday for the first time since he was dealt, with the Pirates opening a four-game series against the Reds.

Hayes’ future with the Pirates looked secure after he signed a $70 million, eight-year contract in 2022.

“The reason I signed the contract here in Pittsburgh, I wanted to be here and maybe play here my whole career,” Hayes said. “But baseball’s a business at the end of the day.”

The Pirates played a video tribute to Hayes when he came to bat in the third inning. As the crowd cheered, with many fans standing, Hayes doffed his batting helmet.

The Gold Glove third baseman went from an organization that was well outside the playoffs race to a Reds team competing for a wild-card spot. Pittsburgh was 49-66 heading into Thursday’s game and last in the division; Cincinnati was 60-55 and three games out of a playoff spot.

“It’s been great over here,” Hayes said. “They’ve welcomed me with big arms. We’re in playoff contention.”

Hayes, the son of former major leaguer Charlie Hayes and a first-round draft pick by the Pirates in 2015, struggled to find consistency at the plate following his splashy debut during the final month of the COVID-19-shortened season in 2020. He hit .376 with five homers in 24 games immediately after being called up, numbers that he didn’t come close to matching while playing a full 162-game schedule.

Hayes hit .236 with two home runs and 36 RBIs this season for the Pirates. Through six games with the Reds, he was batting .211 with a homer and three RBIs.