PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – First baseman Ryan O’Hearn has been reinstated ahead of their first game against the Cubs in Chicago Friday afternoon.
He had been taking live batting practice and several drills at first base over the last few days and a started a rehab assignment with AAA Indianapolis earlier this week.
To make room on the roster, outfielder Ronny Simon has been optioned to AAA.
O’Hearn has been out since July 31 due to a second hamstring injury this season. Pirates GM Ben Cherington said on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday there was a chance O’Hearn could play while the team is in Chicago for a pair of series starting with the White Sox on Tuesday and then Cubs on Friday.
In his first season with the Pirates over 96 games, O’Hearn is hitting .270 with a .334 on-base percentage and .788 OPS with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 69 RBIs.
Spencer Horwitz has been playing first base almost exclusively, but hit only .141 with one extra base hit in August.
