‘He’s the Best Defender in Baseball,’ Pirates Laud Ke’Bryan Hayes for More Stellar Glovework

PITTSBURGH — No matter how he’s performed offensively, Ke’Bryan Hayes’ defense has never wavered.

Hayes has had hot stretches at the plate, notably his first stint in the big leagues in 2020 and the second half of the 2023 season, but he’s coming off an injury-riddled 2024 campaign and has yet to find his groove offensively this season.

The 28-year-old entered play on Friday night with a .558 OPS, which was among the very worst among qualified hitters this season. But he also registered eight defensive runs saved, the most among MLB third basemen.

“He’s one of the best in the league for a reason and he shows it every day,” first baseman Spencer Horwitz said of Hayes.

Hayes’ defense — and a solid game offensively — played a major role in the Pirates’ 8-3 win over the Rangers at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon.

“Ke’Bryan, what do you say about his defense? He had the big hits, but the way he played defensively today, he made some plays that were unreal over there,” manager Don Kelly said following the win.

In the third inning, Hayes saved a pair of runs by robbing Adolis García of a two-run single with a diving play to end the inning. It was a key moment of the game as the web gem kept the Pirates at a manageable two-run deficit.

Ke'Bryan Hayes casually saves 2 runs with an effortless diving stop

PLATINUM GLOVE. NOW. pic.twitter.com/azmbJFMJec

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) June 22, 2025

Throughout the game, Hayes continued to show why he won a Gold Glove in 2023, making routine plays look effortless and making more challenging plays look routine.

Since the start of the 2020 season, no player has more defensive runs saved than Hayes, and the Pirates’ third baseman didn’t make his debut until Sep. 1. It’s not even close, by the way.

Hayes has accumulated 83 defensive runs saved in his career. Since the start of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the next closest on the leaderboard is Andrés Giménez, now of the Blue Jays, with 62. Hayes and Giménez are the only two players with 60 or more DRS during that span.

“Yeah, I think we’re spoiled getting to see it every day. I mean, he’s unbelievable,” teammate Bryan Reynolds said. “He’s the best defender in baseball. So it’s a treat that we see it every day.”

Later in the game, Hayes ensured the Rangers wouldn’t mount a comeback. Josh Jung hit a ball into the hole between short and third base, and Hayes made another strong play to get the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice. Hayes’ efforts helped limit the Rangers to one run in the sixth inning and keep the Pirates well out in front.

“For Ke’Bryan to get to that ball and throw from his backside, and on the play before, too, where he dove, [in the third], he dove in the hole and robbed them of a hit and a couple runs maybe,” Kelly said. “He had a great game today.”

In addition to saving at least a pair of runs in the Pirates’ win on Sunday, Hayes was responsible for plating two of their eight runs.

Hayes finished the game 2 for 4 four with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. From the seventh spot in the lineup, he drove in the Pirates’ first run of the game with a base hit in the fourth. In the fifth, Hayes’ had a hand in a five-run inning with another RBI knock the other way.

While his offensive contributions came as an added bonus in the win, it was Hayes’ defense that again stole the spotlight.

If he continues at his current pace, another Gold Glove might not all he receives at the end of the season to recognize his defense.