Pittsburgh Pirates 2022 Fantasy Outlook

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 03: Oneil Cruz #61 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two run home run for his first Major League home run in the ninth inning during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on October 3, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 03: Oneil Cruz #61 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two run home run for his first Major League home run in the ninth inning during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on October 3, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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Jul 10, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman KeÕBryan Hayes (13) hits a single against the New York Mets in the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman KeÕBryan Hayes (13) hits a single against the New York Mets in the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes

Next up is third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. After a wrist injury cost Hayes a good portion of the 2021 season, there is a bit of uncertainty among fantasy analysts with the Pirate budding star third baseman entering the 2022 season.

As Pirate fans, however, we have seen Hayes put his abilities on display. We know what he is capable of and he is coming into the abbreviated spring training healthy and ready to go. The hope is he can build upon what he flashed in September 2020.

“Going into the offseason, I really wanted to forget about it and make sure that going into the next season my body is healthy for spring training. I’m feeling good. The wrist is feeling good, so I’m ready to get rolling,” Hayes told TribLIVE’s Kevin Gorman.

With that, Hayes could be a very nice buy-low pick as many non-Pirate fans may look elsewhere following last year’s wrist injury and below-average numbers. Despite the IL stint and lingering wrist pain throughout the year, Hayes posted a batting average of .257 to go along with 6 home runs, 38 RBI and 9 stolen bases, all numbers we can expect to go up this year. Ranked as ESPN’s no. 13 overall third baseman. Hayes may fall a little further in the draft this year compared to last, but if the young third baseman can stay healthy for a full season, you may have a top-5 fantasy third baseman on your roster.