Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn return immediately overshadowed by brutal Esmerlyn Valdez injury

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally got Ryan O’Hearn back Friday. A few hours later, they watched Esmerlyn Valdez get helped off the field without putting weight on his left leg.

Because apparently this team is not allowed to have nice things for more than a few innings.

O’Hearn was reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, marking his first availability since suffering a left quad strain on July 31. His return was supposed to represent an important step toward Pittsburgh finally fielding something close to its intended lineup down the stretch.

Instead, by the sixth inning of an 12-2 loss, the Pirates had yet another potentially significant injury to worry about.

Valdez came up limping while running out a ground ball, pulled up before reaching first base and needed assistance getting off the field. Pittsburgh later announced that he exited with left hamstring discomfort. The visual certainly didn't inspire much optimism, and that is what makes the timing so brutal.

Pirates swap one injured slugger for another on brutal day at Wrigley Field

O’Hearn had been one of Pittsburgh’s most important hitters before his injury, batting .270/.334/.454 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI. Getting that bat back should have provided a legitimate boost for a lineup still trying to stay alive in the National League playoff picture.

But if Valdez now misses extended time — or the remainder of the season — the Pirates essentially swapped one middle-of-the-order threat for another on the exact same day.

Valdez has been one of the biggest success stories of Pittsburgh’s season. The rookie entered Friday batting .232/.345/.510 with an .855 OPS, 17 home runs and 47 RBI in 72 games.

Yes, pitchers adjusted to him after his explosive start — Valdez had hit just .174/.312/.313 over his previous 34 games entering Friday — but the power threat never disappeared, nor did his importance to the Pirates’ future.

Valdez had already forced his way into the everyday right-field job after one of the most electric starts to a career in franchise history, including a four-game home run streak and a three-homer doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now the Pirates are left hoping this is merely a scare. Because they have spent much of this season waiting for players such as O’Hearn, Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz to get healthy enough to give the lineup its full potential.

The day O’Hearn finally returned should have felt like another piece falling back into place. Instead, Pittsburgh may have simply watched another one fall out.

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