Pirates Three Stars of the Week: That’s More Like it From Ke’Bryan Hayes

The Pittsburgh Pirates enjoyed a successful week of baseball last week. After taking two out of three games from the Giants in San Francisco, the Pirates returned home and swept the St. Louis Cardinals in three games.

Several players had a big hand in the 5-1 showing from last week’s slate.

The week saw Andrew McCutchen come even closer to checking off several milestones, a first-career home run and a breakout performance at the plate.

Here are the Pirates’ three stars from last week’s action.

Third Star: Josh Palacios – .300/.462/.900, 3 for 10, one double, one triple, one home run, one RBI, five games

All three of Palacios’ hits last week went for extra-bases including his first-career home run against the Cardinals on Friday night.

After struggling a bit out of the gate after the Pirates promoted him from Triple-A Indianapolis, Palacios is finding his groove at the plate.

FIRST MLB HOME RUN FOR PALACIOS pic.twitter.com/VK5DlryhDl

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 3, 2023

Second star: David Bednar – 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0er/5.0ip, three hits, no walks, five strikeouts, four saves, five appearances

After going just over a month in between saves, Bednar earned four for the Pirates last week including one in all three games against the Cardinals.

Bednar has been lights out this season for the Pirates and could be on his way to his second-straight All-Star appearance.

First star: Ke’Bryan Hayes – .450/.450/.900, one double, one triple, two home runs, seven RBIs, five games

Hayes was on fire at the plate last week. The Pirates’ third baseman is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak and has collected multiple hits in three of those four games.

Hayes’ biggest swing came on Friday night when his three-run home run to left field erased a 5-0 deficit en route to the Pirates’ win.

KE'BRYAN HAYES HAS ENTERED THE CHAT pic.twitter.com/PvCjrWcKwZ

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 3, 2023

Pittsburgh will wrap up their lengthy homestand this week with three games against the Oakland A’s beginning on Monday night before welcoming the New York Mets for three this weekend.

Check by next week for the Pirates’ top three performers from the week ahead.