Don Kelly admitted it felt strange to see Ke’Bryan Hayes in a Reds uniform after so many years in black and gold with the Pirates, where Hayes built a reputation as one of baseball’s elite defensive third basemen. Hayes himself echoed that sentiment, calling it “weird” to be in the visiting clubhouse and dugout at PNC Park for the first time since being traded to Cincinnati on July 30.
“It’ll probably look a little odd to everyone here and to the fans,” said Pirates Gold Glove infielder Jared Triolo. “You just know not to hit it to third base today — he’s over there now.”
Hayes, now part of a playoff push, is glad to be contributing to a contender. The Reds (60-55) entered their series with Pittsburgh just three games back in the wild-card race. Fans at PNC Park gave Hayes a warm welcome, including applause during pregame introductions and a short tribute video before his first at-bat, which he acknowledged with a helmet tip.
“I’m just focused on helping my team win,” Hayes said. “It’s definitely something you think about, but maybe it’s better to get this return over with early so I can just get back to playing.”
At 28, Hayes had once been seen as a franchise cornerstone in Pittsburgh, especially after signing an eight-year, $70 million deal in April 2022 — a move team chairman Bob Nutting called a foundational step in building a winner.
“I signed that deal because I wanted to be here long-term — maybe even for my whole career — but baseball’s a business,” Hayes said. “The trade happened, and honestly, it’s been a good experience so far. The Reds have made the transition smooth. I already knew some of the guys from playing against them, and they’ve been very welcoming. We’re in the playoff hunt, and that’s what matters — making plays, having good at-bats, and trying to win.”
Cincinnati added Hayes primarily for his glove. At the time of the trade, the reigning NL Gold Glove winner led all third basemen with 16 defensive runs saved and 15 outs above average. His arrival allowed the Reds to shift Noelvi Marte to right field.
Pirates manager Don Kelly, who also worked with the infielders, praised Hayes’ consistency and elite defense.
“I really appreciated how hard he worked and how he approached each day,” Kelly said. “He earned that first Gold Glove and probably deserved a few more. He was exceptional for us defensively.”
Hayes’ offensive production, however, lagged behind. In 100 games this year with Pittsburgh, he hit .236/.279/.290 with 10 doubles, two triples, two homers, and 36 RBIs. Over six seasons with the Pirates (576 games), he posted a .254 average, 39 home runs, and an 87 OPS+, battling various injuries to his hand, wrist, and back.
His Reds debut was eventful. While he made a rare fielding error that allowed two runs, he later launched a three-run homer to fuel an eight-run eighth inning in a 12-11 loss to Atlanta. In the five games that followed, Hayes went 3-for-14.
“He’s been exactly what we expected — a really good person and a special player,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “That error in his first game was out of character, but you can tell just by watching him how talented he is. He’s shown some power to right field, which fits well in our ballpark. We think there’s more potential in that bat. That said, we’re not going to overhaul his swing in August — that wouldn’t be fair. We’re excited to have him.”
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