Pirates GM Ben Cherington Provides Update on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ Injury

The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently without the services of Ke’Bryan Hayes, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation on Saturday.

It’s been a reoccurring issue for Hayes, who has battled back problems over the last couple of seasons.

The Pirates are hopeful they will not be without the Gold Glove winner for too long. General manager Ben Cherington discussed Hayes on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday afternoon prior to a Mother’s Day matchup with the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.

“We don’t believe it’s serious in the fact that it’s gonna have a major impact on his season,” Cherington said in regards to Hayes. “It’s similar to something that’s grabbed him in the past, something that he’s managed in the past. We know that there’ve been times during seasons where he’s had to take a little bit of a break. We’re hopeful that is relatively short-term. He’s been playing through some symptoms for a little while.”

Cherington noted that Hayes’ injury is felt more when he’s in the batter’s box as opposed to when he’s in the field at third base.

Prior to landing on the injured list, Hayes appeared in 34 games with the Pirates to start the season. He’s slashed .240/.322/.318 with seven doubles, a home run and 11 RBIs through his first 149 plate appearances.

Defensively, Hayes has been responsible for three defensive runs saved and has a .968 fielding percentage. He’s gone 27-consecutive games without committing an error after uncharacteristically being charged with three through the first seven games of the season.

To take his place on the roster, the Pirates recalled infielder Alika Williams from Triple-A Indianapolis. Jared Triolo has started at third base for the Pirates in both games Hayes has been sidelined for.