Pittsburgh Pirates: Opening Day Options to Bat Leadoff

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Gamel #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 25, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Gamel #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 25, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 18: Ke’Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is congratulated by teamamtes after scoring in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 18, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 18: Ke’Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is congratulated by teamamtes after scoring in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 18, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Ke’Bryan Hayes/Bryan Reynolds

In the game of baseball you want to get your best hitters as many at-bats as possible. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, those hitters are Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds. While the best spot in the lineup to put your best hitter is second as it increases the amount of ABs they will get during a season while still potentially giving them a RBI opportunity in the 1st inning of a game, leadoff is not a bad option either.

Could the Pirates look to bat Hayes or Reynolds leadoff in the Opening Day lineup? As a wise man once said time will tell. While it is unlikely with Reynolds, who belongs in the two-hole, it certainly should not be ruled out with Hayes.

Down the stretch in 2021 Hayes made 18 starts as the leadoff hitter for the Pirates. In these 18 trips to the plate Hayes was 8-for-18 with a double. So not only did Hayes bat leadoff down the stretch he had success while doing so.

Long-term the Pirates will likely want the Hayes/Reynolds combination to be batting second and third in the lineup. To start the 2022 season, however, it would not be a shocker to see Hayes in the leadoff spot for the Bucs.