PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Last year, over the span of an entire season, the Pirates had 34 home runs from left-handed only hitters. 34 over 162 games. This year, through 9 games, the Pirates have hit 10.
They’ve gone from a left-handed hitter homering once a week to more than once a game.
Ryan O’Hearn
- The Pirates first multi-year free agent signing in a decade, O’Hearn has 11 hits and 11 RBI through his first eight games. He is one of only five players in team history to have 11 RBI in eight games and the only one with 11 hits in his first eight games.
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only six other Pirates since 1900 have reached base multiple times in at least seven of their first eight games with the Bucs. Brian Giles was the most recent in 1999.
“We got a lot of good guys in here that do things the right way,” O’Hearn said adding he is humbled by the praise from his teammates. “I appreciate guys seeing that. I’m just trying to go out and be myself, support my teammates and play hard. I think if we get a group of guys that go out there and compete and play hard every day, I think we are going to win a lot of games.”
O’Hearn said there are still things he can work on to get even better, defensively as much as offensively.
Oneil Cruz
- After a rough first game, Cruz currently is tied for the National League lead with four home runs.
- What is incredible is Cruz has three of the homers against left-handed pitchers. Last year Cruz hit .102 against lefties with ONE home run.
“Feels pretty good, the work that I put in the offseason is showing up here,” Cruz said through interpreter & Pirates coach Stephen Morales. “I feel in a really good spot against lefties.”
Cruz said his emphasis is staying in the middle of the field, especially against left-handers. If he does that, he believes he will be in a good spot. He said he also worked on being more consistent than he has in the past. Cruz also credited a deeper lineup and seeing better pitches.
“Truly impressive, speaks to the work he put in this offseason,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly. “He came into Spring Training with that goal in mind. Early on you saw it, he was really impressive left-on-left.”
- Cruz is hitting .314/.368 on-base/1.025 OPS with the four home runs
Brandon Lowe
- Acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay, Lowe has three home runs and a pair of doubles
- The Bucs second baseman has a .389 on-base percentage and 1.022 OPS.
- Lowe has been on base in seven of his first eight games
“Forget about whatever happened last year, I don’t care about that,” O’Hearn said. “This team is a good team. I’m excited to show up to work every day and go to battle with these guys.”
A look at the home runs from lefties and reaction from Cruz/O’Hearn
