Pirates Roster Moves: Ryan O’Hearn Out for Foreseeable Future

The Pirates will be without Ryan O’Hearn for 6-8 weeks, manager Don Kelly informed Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and others in Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon. O’Hearn, who was placed on the 10-day IL with a left quad strain, was injured in the ninth inning of Friday night’s loss to the Reds while running to first base on a groundout.

In his first season with the Pirates after signing as a free agent in the winter, O’Hearn carries a .270/.334/.454 batting line with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 69 RBI. Defensively, the 33-year-old has split his time between right field and first base.

O’Hearn previously missed two weeks in May due to a right quad strain. His current quad strain is more severe, and it will keep him off the field until the middle of September at the earliest.

While O’Hearn lands on the IL, the Pirates are getting another player off it. Pittsburgh reinstated catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. from the 7-day concussion list.

Flores, who last played on June 22, has appeared in eight games for the Pirates this season and is batting .267/.421/.533 with a double, a home run and two RBI.

The Pirates made two additional roster moves as rookie right-hander Antwone Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis and right-hander Isaac Mattson was recalled.

Kelly pitched three-scoreless innings on Friday night, his third appearance with the Pirates. On the season, the 22-year-old has a 6.14 ERA. Kelly has made 19 appearances/13 starts with Indianapolis and is 5-5 with a 4.29 ERA. In 77.2 innings, he’s allowed 37 earned runs on 73 hits with 36 walks and 56 strikeouts.

Mattson quickly rejoins the Pirates after he was optioned on Wednesday. In 36 appearances this season, he’s gone 0-0 with a 4.93 ERA. Mattson has allowed 19 runs on 38 hits with 16 walks and 33 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.

The post Pirates Roster Moves: Ryan O’Hearn Out for Foreseeable Future appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.