Ryan

O'Hearn

O’Hearn got the scoring started in the ballgame with a two-out, RBI single off of Kei-Wei Teng in the top half of the first inning. He then ambushed a first-pitch fastball for a 349-foot (94.0 mph EV) two-run shot off of Teng during a four-run uprising in the sixth inning. The 32-year-old slugger hasn’t missed a beat since returning from the injured list and is now slashing a robust .295/.371/.486 with nine long balls and 33 RBI on the season.

O’Hearn has gone 3-for-8 with one homer in a pair of games since returning from the injured list earlier this week. The 32-year-old takes a seat despite the presence of righty Spencer Arrighetti on the hill for Houston in this one. It’ll be Marcell Ozuna at DH as he draws his first start since May 27.

O’Hearn was reinstated from the 10-day IL before the game, and he promptly took Zebby Matthews yard in his first at-bat of the afternoon. It was part of a two-hit day for O’Hearn, who raised his OPS to .847. The 32-year-old is having a career year with the Pirates, and the expectation is that he’ll continue hitting in the heart of the order. Pittsburgh travels to face the Astros and Braves this week.

On the day that Konnor Griffin (forearm) heads to the injured list, the Pirates offense gets reinforcements with O’Hearn returning from his stay there. O’Hearn had been shelved since May 16 due to a right quad strain. He returns to a solid .289/.368/.459 slash line with seven homers and 29 RBI over his first 182 plate appearances with the Bucs.

O’Hearn will return to Pittsburgh’s lineup following a minimum stay on the injured list recovering from a right quad strain. The 32-year-old has hit .289/.368/.459 with seven homers, 29 RBI and one steal in 182 plate appearances over 44 games in his Pirates debut this season.

O’Hearn sustained the injury during Saturday’s contest against the Phillies. No word yet on the severity of the strain or how much time the 32-year-old slugger may stand to miss. Jake Mangum was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move on Sunday.

O’Hearn went 0-for-1 before exiting the game. The Pirates announced that the 32-year-old is currently being evaluated by the medical staff, and his status for Sunday’s game is questionable. Don’t be surprised if O’Hearn misses that game against Philadelphia even if everything checks out fine.

That’s eight hits in five games for O’Hearn, who took a Chase Dollander fastball over the plate deep to dead center. The Pirates have gotten what they’ve paid for so far, as O’Hearn has been a respectable middle-of-the-order hitter and has even managed an empty .295 average against left-handed pitching coming into today’s game.

O’Hearn’s homer was his sixth of the season, a sixth-inning solo shot off Antonio Senzatela. Pittsburgh entered the day with the third-highest team OBP in the league, and O’Hearn’s .366 clip has certainly helped. He’s now started against six of the 10 lefties the Pirates have faced this season.

Ryan O’Hearn takes over at first base with Jake Mangum heading out to right field. Horwitz is presumably day-to-day for now. There should be an update on his status following the contest.