The Pirates got a much-needed boost in Chicago on Friday, activating Ryan O'Hearn off the 10-day injured list and bringing the veteran slugger back for the final stretch. To make room, outfielder Ronny Simon was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis.
O'Hearn has been a key piece in his first season of a two-year, $29 million deal, even though injuries have limited him to 96 games. He’s hitting .270 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs, and one of his biggest moments came on July 7, when he delivered a 10-RBI night.
His time on the shelf came through two separate quad injuries, one on each leg. The latest setback happened July 31 in Cincinnati, when he was running to first base in the ninth inning.
He needed help leaving the field and later used a crutch in the clubhouse. Earlier in the year, he had already dealt with a right quad injury, but he beat the original recovery timetable.
The left quad injury followed a similar path, since he avoided surgery and returned ahead of the six-to-eight-week window.
O'Hearn began his rehab assignment Tuesday with Indianapolis, going 1-for-3 with a double while playing seven innings at first base. On Wednesday, he was the designated hitter for seven innings, then sat out Thursday before rejoining the big league club in Chicago.
His presence has mattered for the lineup. Pittsburgh scored 5.16 runs per game in the games O'Hearn played, compared with 4.24 when he was out. The Pirates are expected to use him at first base and designated hitter, and he’ll avoid the outfield for at least the rest of the season.
When he first got hurt, O'Hearn made it clear he wanted another chance to help the Pirates get into the playoffs. Their odds are still long, with Pittsburgh 4 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race, but a recent hot streak has kept the door open as he returns.
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Manager Don Kelly said Ashcraft will not pitch again in the 2026 season, even though tests have not shown any structural damage. For a club trying to piece together its rotation down the stretch, the Pirates are now set to turn to a bullpen game for their next start, leaving one of their most promising young arms unavailable at exactly the point when they could least afford it. [Read more 🡒]