Perrotto: Ke’Bryan Hayes Making Lifetime Adjustments

BRADENTON, Fla. – Ke’Bryan Hayes was optimistic at this time a year ago.

The Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman was coming off a strong finish to the 2023 season. The back problems that hindered him in the second half of the 2022 season and the first half of ’23 had subsided

In 49 games after the 2023 All-Star break, Hayes hit .299/.335/.539 with 10 home runs. It was reminiscent of when he made his major-league debut during the pandemic-affected 2020 season and had a .376/.442/.682 slash line with five homers in 24 games.

A Gold Glove winner in 2023, Hayes seemed poised to break through to stardom in 2024. Instead, the season was a nightmare as the back problems returned.

“It (stunk),” Hayes said.

Indeed, it did.

Hayes was limited to 96 games and batted just .233/.283/.290 with four home runs. He was unseated as the NL Gold Glove third baseman by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman.

The reserved Hayes remained stoic throughout the rough year. However, as he gets ready for what hopes is a healthy 2025, he admits that 2024 was much more difficult than he let on.

“The way I finished 2023, I felt good. I was playing good and whatnot. I felt good coming into spring. I had a few little hiccups here and there in the offseason last year, but I came into spring (training) and I was feeling good,” Hayes said.

Then near the end of spring training, Hayes felt discomfort in his back. However, he did not want to begin the season on the injured list and tried to play through the soreness until landing on the IL on May 11.

Hayes returned on May 28 then went on the IL for the rest of the season on Aug. 1.

“I hate being on the IL,” Hayes said. “Growing up, I never missed games. I never missed anything. It just (stinks) whenever this is your job and you’re counted on to be out there, you just want to be out there, you want to win every game, and you want to be out there with your team. We know what it’s like to go through a whole 162(-game schedule). And it sucks when you’re not out there to help your team fight.”

However, Hayes is optimistic following an offseason full of strengthening exercises recommended by noted back specialist Robert Watkins, who is based in Los Angeles. Based on Watkins’ advice, Hayes has also changed how he goes about certain things in everyday life, including standing and driving a car with better posture and using his legs more while lifting objects.

“Whenever I got home and I started lifting (weights), I just felt a big difference in my body control, actually bracing my core the right way whenever I’m walking, in the car, all that stuff,” Hayes said. “Because all that stuff plays a factor whenever you have a back injury. Really, just every day, light stuff you’re doing.”

Hayes realizes he needs to do those things for the rest of his life to prevent further back trouble.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are hopeful Hayes is up to the heavier task of a six-month season.

They signed him to a nine-year, $70-million contract early in the 2022 season and their rate of investment was good the first two years when he had 4.4 bWAR in ’22 and 4.0 in 2023. However, that figure slipped to 0.8 last season when the Pirates had a 76-86 record for the second straight season and finished last in the NL Central.

But it’s a new year and the Pirates, like Hayes, are optimistic.

“I think we’ve seen, when Ke’ is healthy, how he provides on both sides of the ball,” manager Derek Shelton said. “I’ve never shied away from thinking he’s one of, if not the best defenders, in baseball, and offensively when he’s been healthy, we’ve seen that he can produce. To see him in camp, to see the way his body looks, it’s really encouraging.”

Hayes still needs to encourage the Pirates in September because he is too valuable to lose.