Key to being healthy: Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes hopes he conquered chronic back issues

BRADENTON, Fla. — On a day where the attention is typically focused on the first workout for pitchers and catchers, all eyes were on Ke’Bryan Hayes taking grounders and making throws across the infield.

The 2023 NL Gold Glove third baseman showed positive signs Wednesday morning at Pirate City, smiling and moving with apparent ease. Both were missing last season, when Hayes battled back problems and produced the worst statistical season of his five-year career.

“It’s extremely important,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “I think we’ve seen, when Ke’ is healthy, how he provides on both sides of the ball. I’ve never shied away from thinking he’s one of, if not the best, defenders in baseball. And, offensively, when he’s been healthy, we’ve seen that he can produce. To see him in camp, to see the way his body looks, it’s really encouraging.”

Hayes reported to major-league camp early in an effort to show the progress he made in an offseason dedicated to confronting and conquering the chronic back issues that required two stints on the injured list last year, with the second one ending his season in mid-August. He declared himself, for the most part, pain-free.

Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes hopes his chronic back issues are behind him pic.twitter.com/eSG4AOwjOz

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 12, 2025

It was a nightmare season for Hayes, who was coming off a 2023 campaign in which he batted .271/.309/.453 with 31 doubles, seven triples, 15 home runs and 61 RBIs and was voted team MVP by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

“It sucked,” Hayes said. “The way I finished 2023, I felt good. I was playing good and whatnot. I felt good coming into spring. My offseason was pretty good. I had a few little hiccups here and there in the offseason last year, but I came into spring and I was feeling good. Then, toward the end of spring, something just didn’t feel right. I just tried to hit through it and had to go on the IL early. It was like, ‘Here we go again.’ ”

Hayes followed with career-worst numbers, hitting .233/.283/.290 with nine doubles, four homers and 25 RBIs in 96 games. Even his elite defense declined, dropping from 21 defensive runs saved to 10 DRS. The difference was drastic, one element that prevented the Pirates from improving upon a 76-win season and making a playoff push.

“I think that’s the biggest point: He did not play healthy. He tried to grind through it,” Shelton said. “We missed him a ton. We’ve seen how impactful he can be as a third baseman, both offensively and defensively, when he’s healthy. It’s important for us to keep him healthy.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton on the importance of having a healthy Ke’Bryan Hayes and what he’s seen of his swing. pic.twitter.com/M2QhaOFPxn

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 12, 2025

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington believes a healthy Hayes could make a major difference, whether it’s at the plate, on the basepaths or defending the hot corner.

“All in, put the defense and the offense and the baserunning together, add it all up, he’s very clearly one of the most valuable third basemen in the game in ’22 and ’23,” Cherington said. “Last year was a grind for him. If we’re getting something closer to ’22 and ’23, that’s going to make a big impact on the team.”

Pirates GM Ben Cherington on the difference of what having a healthy Ke’Bryan Hayes would mean to the team. pic.twitter.com/w7NKOaeUuD

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 12, 2025

When the back pain became intolerable, the Pirates decided to shut down Hayes and send him to renowned spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins IV, whose BackDoctor app gave Hayes a program to follow. Hayes was skeptical about whether it would resolve his recurring issues.

“There was a lot of days where I just felt so bad to where it’s like, ‘Man, I don’t know what to do. I’m trying everything I can.’ And that’s whenever we got to the point where we were just like, we need to go see a guy that he’s top of the line with this,” Hayes said. “And that was when we went to Watkins last year. I mean, even whenever I first got there, I was just like, ‘Man, I don’t know if this is going to work.’ ”

Hayes put any misgivings aside and decided to trust a rehabilitation program designed to improve his core strength and stability with bodyweight exercises. His holds on abdominal movements such as the “dead bug” increased from five to 15 minutes. Hayes also found that where adding weights to his lifts would previously throw his body out of alignment, the improved core strength limited the discomfort.

That helped his fielding, as Hayes found bending over and making quick-twitch movements to be less stressful. Hitting was another story. Taking aggressive swings often aggravate his back, so Hayes adjusted his stance. He used a wider base and a high, two-hand finish to keep his swing light and limit the torque on his back.

“Everything feels a lot better,” Hayes said. “It’s the best I’ve felt in a while as far as moving around and running.”

While Hayes hopes the worst of his back problems are behind him, he realizes that it’s an issue he must address on a daily basis to keep them from resurfacing.

“Honestly, I think it’s going to be something I manage the rest of my career, even whenever I’m done playing just from a health standpoint with the back,” Hayes said. “But, for the most part, I know what I need to do.”

And Hayes knows what the Pirates need him to do if they want to become a contender. His barrel percentage (2.4%) and minus-21 batting run value ranked among the worst in the majors last season. Hayes believes the offensive production will return if he puts himself in position to hit the ball hard, which starts with being healthy.

“I know if I can get my body back right and keep it right, I know I’m going to hit,” Hayes said. “I think just being able to concur that side of it, keeping my body healthy, I know that side will come. The numbers will come back. I try not to think about that so much. This offseason, it was really just, ‘What can I do to make sure I’m not hurting, not hurting in my training, not hurting in my hitting?’ Everything else is going to take care of itself.

“I think for us to be a good team, I have to be that special at my position. Playing third base, you have to be a guy that can drive the ball. Whether it be just doubles or home runs, that’s part of my job. I think for us to be a good team and get into the playoffs, I have to do that.”