Ke’Bryan Hayes didn’t have to wait long to return to Pittsburgh. The former Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman took the field as a visitor for the first time on Thursday.
Hayes was drafted by the Pirates in 2015 and debuted with the big league club in 2020. He was traded to the Reds at the deadline and is wearing a uniform other than the black and gold for the first time in his professional career.
Before the game, Hayes was excited to face his former team.
“It feels good to be back,” Hayes said. “All the fans here always showed me a lot of love over the past few years.”
Hayes spent roughly ten years in the Pirates organization. He didn’t have to wait quite that long to play a game in Pittsburgh as a visitor.
Story continues below advertisement
“It was pretty much a decade. It was from the time I was 18 to 28, just kind of seeing how far I’ve come along, how much I’ve learned, all the players that I got to play with from the old regime to the new regime. Looking back, it’s like, man, that time went by so quick,” Hayes said.
In six games for the Reds, Hayes is 4-19 with one home run. He’s struck out once and has yet to draw a walk.
More MLB: Is Pirates’ Paul Skenes Having Best Career Start In MLB History?
Featured image via Aaron Doster/Imagn Images