Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes returns to starting lineup in time for Opening Day at St. Louis

Kevin Gorman | Thursday, April 7, 2022 12:08 p.m.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes smiles during a workout on Monday, March 14, 2022, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.

After missing the final week of spring training with a sprained ankle, Ke’Bryan Hayes returned in time to start at third base in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day lineup at the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hayes is one of only three returning Pirates starters from the 2021 opener, along with center fielder Bryan Reynolds and shortstop Kevin Newman.

As Pirates manager Derek Shelton tinkered with this spring, designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach is batting leadoff, followed by Reynolds, Hayes, first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo, Newman, Cole Tucker in right field, Ben Gamel in left, Roberto Perez at catcher and Hoy Park at second base.

The Pirates will start right-hander JT Brubaker against Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright.

Right fielder Dylan Carlson is batting leadoff for the Cardinals, followed by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, left fielder Tyler O’Neill, third baseman Nolan Arenado, shortstop Paul DeJong, catcher Yadier Molina, center fielder Harrison Bader and second baseman Tommy Edman.

Ke’Bryan Hayes returns for Opening Day, and Cole Tucker gets the start in RF with Hoy Park at 2B.Brubaker vs. Wainwright pic.twitter.com/g1KFpGFGi1

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) April 7, 2022

MLB adopted the universal designated hitter this year, so Shelton has flexibility with his batting order. Vogelbach has hit leadoff only five times in his six-year major league career. Reynolds batted third in the order in 142 games last season but hit second in 2020 season opener. Hayes batted second in 69 games and leadoff in 18 last season.

“I’m open to whatever,” Reynolds told the Tribune-Review. “Obviously, I’m more comfortable at three. I felt like I hit pretty well there last year, had a lot of at-bats there. I haven’t sat down and thought about it at all. I’m perfectly comfortable (at No. 2).”