Pirates Lose Slugger to Injury During Phillies Game
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates lost one of their most key players this season to an injury in their most recent game.
Pirates slugger Ryan O'Hearn departed the in the top of the fourth inning vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on May 16 with right quad discomfort. Jared Triolo took over O'Hearn's spot at first base after originally starting in right field and Nick Yorke came in to play in right field.
The Pirates announced that O'Hearn left the game with right quad discomfort and that the team's medical staff is currently treating him.
Pittsburgh will hope that this injury for O'Hearn is not too serious and that they can get him back sooner rather than later.
Ryan O'Hearn's 2026 Season with the Pirates
O'Hearn has been one of the better hitters for the Pirates this season, as they added him on a two-year, $29 million deal as a free agent.
The 32-year old is slashing .289/.368/.459 for an OPS of .827 in 44 games, with 46 hits, six doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBI and 19 walks to 34 strikeouts.
O'Hearn is second on the Pirates in batting average and OPS, ranks tied for the second-most hits, third-best slugging percentage, third-most home runs, runs scored and RBI, fourth-best on-base percentage, fourth-most walks and tied for the fifth-most double.
He has also started 32 games in right field and started seven games in 22 games played at first base this season for the Pirates.
O'Hearn had a great final two games against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park this homestand, May 13-14.
He hit two home runs, a solo home run in the 10-4 defeat on May 13 and then a two-run home run in the first inning to make it 3-0 in the eventual 7-2 victory in the series finale on May 14.
Those were the first two home runs of May for O'Hearn, who was in somewhat of a slump, and worked with the Pirates hitting coaches to get back to doing what he's done best.
How Pirates Manage Without O'Hearn
O'Hearn has been the Pirates main right fielder, but if he's injured, the Pirates will have to look elsewhere for options at that position.
It's likely both Yorke and outfielder Billy Cook get more chances there, especially with fellow outfielder Jake Mangum still on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring injury.
Triolo should go back to playing primarily around the infield, as that was his first ever start in right field as a professional.
The Pirates will seriously need O'Hearn's offensive production back soon, as Yorke and Cook came into this contest hitting .205 and .190, respectively.
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.