Odds continue to increase Ryan O’Hearn will return to Pirates this season

One of the Pirates’ best all-around hitters is on pace to return to the lineup before the end of the season.

Ryan O’Hearn is progressing well from his quad injury and is expected to rejoin the Pirates in mid-September, general manager Ben Cherington said on his radio show Sunday.

The Pirates are planning for O’Hearn to begin a rehab assignment sometime in the next 10 days.

O’Hearn severely injured his quad running down the line against the Cincinnati Reds on July 31.

He had to be helped off the field and ended up being less serious than it initially looked, avoiding surgery and a far more severe issue.

The Pirates’ first baseman/right fielder is slashing .270/.334/.454 with a .788 OPS in 96 games. 

O’Hearn is second on the team in RBIs (68) and third in home runs (17) despite missing time with two separate injuries. 

He owns 97 hits, 15 doubles, and has walked 30 times, compared to 86 strikeouts.

O’Hearn is in the first year of a two-year contract signed in the offseason. He was the first free agent to agree to terms with the Pirates on a multi-year deal since Ivan Nova in December 2016.

The Pirates are 67-71 and six games back in the wild card, needing an all-time winning streak to keep their playoff chances alive.

The lefty bat will be a huge part of next year’s team in Pittsburgh, and his leadership, paired with being a great all-around baseball player, is going to be crucial if the Pirates are ever going to get back to the postseason soon.