Pittsburgh Pirates: Ke’Bryan Hayes has Needed Bounce Back Series

To steal an old Clint Hurdleism… Ke’Bryan Hayes is ‘punching back’ against the league and appears to be back on track for the Pittsburgh Pirates

In his bid to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award the overall numbers for Ke’Bryan Hayes are strong this season. In 33 games played with the Pittsburgh Pirates this season the young third baseman has hit for a .269/.348/.454 slash line in 135 plate appearances.

Hayes has a strong .185 isolated power (ISO) and 121 wRC+ in his 135 PAs. He’s walked in 11.1% of his trips to the plate while striking out just 17.8% of the time. Hayes has hit 4 home runs and has an extra base hit rate of 9.6%.

Throughout the season Hayes has also played the elite defense that he has always been known for. Hayes has accounted for +5 Defensive Runs Saved and +4 Outs Above Average at third base. While the defense never slumped for Hayes, in late June and into early July his offense did slump.

Prior to the team’s most recent three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, Hayes was stuck in a 3-for-28 rut. He drew a pair of walks during this stretch, struck out 8 times (26.7% strikeout rate) and collected just one extra base hit which was a double.

Against the Braves the budding superstar started to breakout of his funk. To steal a line from long-time Pirate manager Clint Hurdle, the league ‘punched back’ against Hayes and now Hayes is ‘punching back’ himself.

Against the Braves, Hayes was 6-for-13 with a home run and 3 doubles. He struck out just twice in the series while also drawing a pair of walks. This included a vital walk as part of the team’s 9th inning rally resulting in a walk off win on Tuesday night.

Next up for Hayes will be a test against a strong New York Mets coaching staff in the team’s upcoming four-game series. Hayes will be looking to continue to swing a hot bat in order to enter the All-Star Break riding a hot streak.