MLB

O'Hearn’s Hitting Is Pacing Pirates in Tight National League Central Play

Ryan O'Hearn went from being the 243rd player taken in 2014’s MLB Draft to starting in the MLB 2025 All-Star Game.
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O'Hearn’s Hitting Is Pacing Pirates in Tight National League Central Play
Ryan O'Hearn #29 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates his two-run home run with teammate Bryan Reynolds #10 during the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 28, 2026. Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Donald Laible
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Ryan O'Hearn is proof that in the 2026 MLB season, one man can still make a difference to a ballclub.

The numbers don’t lie. Since Opening Day at Citi Field on March 26 against the New York Mets, O‘Hearn has been setting the table for Pittsburgh’s batting order. It was in the sixth inning at Citi Field when O’Hearn clubbed his first home run of the season, and while wearing the Pirates’ colors. He moved on with his team to the next series in Cincinnati in tow with three hits and two RBIs. O'Hearn’s “How do you do” to his teammates and Pittsburgh’s fan base was a welcomed sign of what is hoped to be good times ahead.

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Donald Laible
Donald Laible
Author
Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.