Ke'Bryan Hayes

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Ke'Bryan Hayes

|image = Ke'Bryan Hayes 2024.jpg

|caption = Hayes with Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024

|team = Pittsburgh Pirates

|number = 13

|position = Third baseman

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|1|28}}

|birth_place = Tomball, Texas, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 1

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 22, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .254

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 39

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 198

|teams =

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2020}}–present)

|awards =

Gold Glove Award (2023)

}}

Ke'Bryan Kobe Hayes ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|iː|b|r|aɪ|æ|n}} {{respell|KEE|bry|an}};[https://www.mlb.com/player/ke-bryan-hayes-663647 Ke'Bryan Hayes (profile) – MLB.com.] Retrieved April 7, 2024. born January 28, 1997) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020.

Amateur career

Hayes attended Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas. He committed to play college baseball at the University of Tennessee.{{cite web|url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=291914|title=Ke'Bryan Hayes Perfect Game|publisher=Perfect Game|work=perfectgame.org|access-date=February 23, 2020}} In 2015, as a high school senior, Hayes hit .436 with three home runs, 27 runs batted in (RBI), and 12 stolen bases.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pirates-sign-2015-supplemental-first-round-draft-pick-kebryan-hayes/c-130995918|title=Pirates sign 2015 supplemental first round Draft pick Ke'Bryan Hayes|publisher=Major League Baseball|work=MLB.com|date=June 16, 2015 |access-date=February 23, 2020}}

Professional career

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Hayes in the first round, with the 32nd overall selection, of the 2015 MLB draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2015/06/16/Pirates-sign-draft-pick-Ke-Bryan-Hayes/stories/201506160186|title=Pirates sign draft pick Ke'Bryan Hayes|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|work=post-gazette.com}}{{cite web|url=https://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2015/06/08/concordia-lutherans-kebryan-hayes-goes-to-pirates-with-32nd-overall-pick|title=Concordia Lutheran's Ke'Bryan Hayes goes to Pirates with 32nd overall pick|date=June 9, 2015|publisher=Houston Chronicle|work=chron.com}} Foregoing his college commitment, Hayes signed with Pittsburgh, and spent 2015 with both the Gulf Coast League Pirates and the West Virginia Black Bears, batting a combined .308, with 20 RBI, in 56 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-173153426|title=Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes powers West Virginia in marathon win|work=MiLB.com|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 23, 2020}}

In 2016, Hayes spent the season with the West Virginia Power, where he earned South Atlantic League All-Star honors{{Cite web|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/power-places-players-trainer-on-sal-all-star-team/article_bf133ccd-7a69-55b4-8bcc-73c25108da0b.html|title=Power places 3 players, trainer on SAL All-Star team|first=Derek|last=Redd|website=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=June 8, 2016 }} and compiled a .263 average, with six home runs, and 37 RBI, in 65 games. In 2017, Hayes moved up with the Bradenton Marauders, where he batted .278, with two home runs, and 43 RBI, in 108 games{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/ke-bryan-hayes-663647|title=Ke'Bryan Hayes Stats, Highlights, Bio|date=2018|publisher=Minor League Baseball|work=MiLB.com|access-date=March 21, 2018}} and was named a Florida State League All-Star.[https://www.piratesprospects.com/2017/06/morning-report-a-look-at-bradenton-at-the-all-star-break.html Morning Report: A Look at the Bradenton Marauders at the All-Star Break | Pirates Prospects]

Hayes played for the Altoona Curve in 2018, and was named an Eastern League All-Star{{Cite web|url=http://www.chatsports.com/pittsburgh-pirates/a/source/kebryan-hayes-and-will-craig-named-to-eastern-league-all-star-team-14685394|title=Ke'Bryan Hayes and Will Craig Named to Eastern League All-Star Team|date=August 23, 2018|work=chatsports.com|access-date=February 23, 2020}} and slashing .293/.375/.444 with seven home runs and 47 RBIs in 117 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ke-bryan-hayes-power-comes-into-focus|title=Ke'Bryan Hayes' Power Comes into Focus For Pittsburgh Pirates|publisher=Baseball America|work=baseballamerica.com|date=February 5, 2019 |access-date=February 23, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/third-base-prospect-kebryan-hayes-living-out-childhood-dreams-at-pirates-camp|title=Third-base prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes living out childhood dreams at Pirates camp|date=February 25, 2019|last=Gorman|first=Kevin|publisher=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|work=triblive.com|access-date=February 23, 2020}} In 2019, Hayes split the season between the West Virginia Black Bears and the Indianapolis Indians, hitting .261/.334/.411/.745, with 10 home runs, and 55 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/ke-bryan-hayes-breaks-out-plate-for-indianapolis-indians-306194796|title=Hayes breaks out at plate for Indianapolis|date=April 11, 2019|last=Terranova|first=Rob|publisher=Minor League Baseball|work=MiLB.com|access-date=February 23, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2019/03/18/Pirates-send-Ke-Bryan-Hayes-to-minor-league-camp-in-latest-round-of-roster-moves/stories/201903180078|title=Pirates send Ke'Bryan Hayes to minor league camp|date=March 18, 2019|last=Brink|first=Bill|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|work=post-gazette.com|access-date=February 23, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/986657/2019/05/29/kebryan-hayes-wants-to-not-just-get-to-pittsburgh-but-stay/|title=Ke'Bryan Hayes wants to not just get to Pittsburgh, but stay...|date=May 29, 2019|last=Dopirak|first=Dustin|publisher=The Athletic|work=theathletic.com|access-date=February 23, 2020}} Following the season, he was added to the Pirates 40-man roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/oneil-cruz-ke-bryan-hayes-added-to-40-man|title=Bucs add top prospects Hayes, Cruz to 40-man|date=November 20, 2019|last=Berry|first=Adam|publisher=Major League Baseball|work=MLB.com|access-date=November 22, 2019}}

On July 19, 2020, it was announced that Hayes had tested positive for COVID-19. On September 1, 2020, the Pirates promoted him to the majors.{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/ke-bryan-hayes-promotion-to-pirates | title=Bucs call up prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes | work=MLB.com | author=Adam Berry | date=September 1, 2020 | access-date=September 2, 2020 }} Making his MLB debut the same day, he hit his first career home run against the Chicago Cubs.{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/ke-bryan-hayes-pirates-major-league-debut | title=Hayes a huge boost for Pirates in debut | work=MLB.com | author=Adam Berry | date=September 1, 2020 | access-date=September 2, 2020 }} Hayes received five votes in 2020 National League Rookie of the Year voting, finishing in sixth place.{{cite web |title=2020 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2020.shtml#all_NL_ROY_voting |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=January 30, 2021 |language=en}}

In his 2021 season debut against the Cubs, Hayes hit a home run in his first at bat of the season. On April 4, 2021, Hayes was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist inflammation after leaving a game the previous day because of the injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/pirates-designate-tyler-bashlor-for-assignment.html|title=Pirates Designate Tyler Bashlor For Assignment|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=April 4, 2021 }} On May 9, Hayes was placed on the 60-day injured list.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/pirates-place-colin-moran-on-injured-list-select-troy-stokes-jr.html | title=Pirates Place Colin Moran on Injured List, Select Troy Stokes Jr | date=May 9, 2021 }} He was activated on June 3.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=June 3, 2021 |title=Pirates Activate Ke'Bryan Hayes, Option Wil Crowe |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/pirates-activate-kebryan-hayes-option-wil-crowe.html |access-date=November 10, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} On June 11, Hayes became the quickest Pirate to 20 career extra-base hits in the modern era, one game faster than Barry Bonds.

Hayes finished the 2021 season batting .257/.316/.373 with 6 home runs, 38 RBIs and 9 stolen bases in 96 games. He was awarded the Fielding Bible Award for excellent defense as a third baseman.{{cite web|url=https://www.bucsdugout.com/2021/10/28/22751458/jacob-stallings-kebryan-hayes-recipients-of-2021-fielding-bible-awards-pittsburgh-pirates|title=Jacob Stallings, Ke'Bryan Hayes recipients of 2021 Fielding Bible Awards|first=Austin|last=Bechtold|website=Bucs Dugout|publisher=SB Nation|date=October 28, 2021|accessdate=January 3, 2022}}

On April 7, 2022, Hayes agreed to an eight-year, $70 million contract extension with the Pirates, which became official on April 12.{{cite web | last=Santos | first=Justice delos | title=Ke'Bryan Hayes signs extension with Pirates | website=MLB.com | date=April 13, 2022 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ke-bryan-hayes-signs-extension-with-pirates | access-date=November 10, 2024}}

On November 5, 2023, Hayes won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for NL third basemen, breaking Nolan Arenado's streak of 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards.{{cite news |last1=Crouse |first1=Jake |title=Hayes wins NL Gold Glove at 3B, ending Arenado's 10-year run |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ke-bryan-hayes-wins-2023-nl-gold-glove-award-at-3b |access-date=April 6, 2025 |work=MLB.com |date=November 5, 2023}}

Personal life

Ke'Bryan is the son of Charlie Hayes, who played for 14 seasons in MLB.{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/highschool/article/Concordia-Lutheran-s-Hayes-benefits-from-ex-big-6169087.php|title=Concordia Lutheran's Hayes benefits from ex-big leaguer father's advice|date=March 30, 2015|last=Roepken|first=Corey|publisher=Houston Chronicle|work=houstonchronicle.com|access-date=February 23, 2020}} His older brother Tyree was a pitcher in the minor leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article154462004.html|title=Big-league lessons from father shape Ke'Bryan Hayes into top prospect with Marauders|date=June 5, 2017|last=Wilson|first=David|publisher=The Bradenton Herald|work=bradenton.com|access-date=February 23, 2020}}