PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Thursday was only the second day in his life that Ke’Bryan Hayes was in the visiting clubhouse at PNC Park. He was glad to get this day over with and excited to be with a team in contention.
Hayes was traded to Cincinnati July 30 for left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers and Class A shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura. Since the move, Hayes has played in six games went four hits, a home run and three RBI with a .211 average, .211 on-base percentage and .579 OPS. This season in 100 games with the Pirates, .236 average, .279 on-base, .569 OPS with two home runs and 36 RBI.
“At the end of the day, the reason I signed a contract with Pittsburgh (8 years, $70 million) is I wanted to be here,” Hayes said before the game Thursday. “Maybe play here my whole career. Baseball is a business at the end of the day.”
“So far, it’s been great, they’ve made the transition pretty easy. They have welcomed me with big arms and we are kinda in the hunt for some playoff contention.”
Hayes said it’s good to be back in front of the fans in Pittsburgh. He said he’s never faced Paul Skenes, even in a practice situation, saying it was going to be a fun night.
The 28-year-old said after the trade, he wanted to get with his new team as fast as he could. He played the next day and said he’s just focusing on helping his new team win.
He has a lot of good memories with the Pirates, it was hard to pinpoint just one. Hayes said a lot of things happen in clubhouses and road trips, but wouldn’t go into detail.
“It was great, there were ups-and-downs,” Hayes said of his time with the Pirates. “Having to go in the IL. I feel like this past year, I was able to stay on the field and stay healthy. All in all, it was good. All the things I learned and people I met. The fans were great to me here.”
Hayes won a Gold Glove last year joining Pirates legends like Roberto Clemente in that honor. In 576 games with the Bucs, he hit .254 with 101 doubles, 39 home runs, 212 RBI and a .307 on-base percentage and .676 OPS. His best season was 2023, hitting .271 with 15 home runs and 31 doubles. Now he’s with a division rival.
“It feels good to be in contention late in the year,” Hayes said. “I like the players, how they are going about their days. They keep it loose, but they also want to win games. So far, it’s been great. We’ve been in a lot of good games.”
After four games with Class A Bradenton, the 20-year-old Stafura was promoted to High A Greensboro where he has played in two games.