Callihan blasts 1st MLB HR off Ohtani -- and his 2nd lifts Bucs in dramatic rally

PITTSBURGH -- Tyler Callihan was already riding high entering his pivotal at-bat in the bottom of the eighth. A few innings earlier, Callihan blasted his first MLB home run out of PNC Park -- off starter Shohei Ohtani no less -- as it bounced into the Allegheny River.

Coming up to the plate with runners on first and second and the Pirates trailing the Dodgers by two, Callihan blasted a three-run shot to flip the game on its head. Pittsburgh held on for a 9-8 win, snapping a four-game skid.

Callihan was in a clear spot to bunt over the two runners and put the tying run in scoring position. Third-base coach Tony Beasley, however, let the hot-hitting Callihan swing away. He did just that on the first pitch from Los Angeles reliever Kyle Hurt. It was a changeup in the heart of the zone, and Callihan didn’t miss it.

“If you throw the ball over the plate and I think I'm on time to hit it, I'm going to swing,” Callihan said.

Callihan is the 13th player in Pirates history to hit his first two career home runs in the same game. He was the first since 2005.

Callihan wasn’t able to retrieve his first home run ball. It’s likely still swimming through the Allegheny River. Though he did acquire the second, and he has an encased baseball from his outing on the mound Tuesday night in a blowout loss. It was quite fitting for Callihan to turn into a two-way star, especially with Ohtani on the other side.

The Pirates’ offense had struggled across the past four games. Pittsburgh, which entered with the sixth most runs scored in the Majors, scored just 2.75 per game in the previous four. Facing Ohtani made things more difficult.

With Oneil Cruz landing on the injured list on Wednesday with fourth and fifth-metacarpal non-displaced fractures in his left hand, the task only grew.

Though with Cruz out, an avenue opened for Pirates batters to step up toward the bottom of the order. Batters like Callihan, who started in right field and hit in the seventh hole.

“I don't know if anybody could fill his void. He's spectacular,” Callihan said of Cruz. “Every time he's out there, you're going to see something you've never seen before. Just all the boys coming together and being able to play different positions, and see what happens, see what [manager Don Kelly] does with the lineup. But yeah, I'm ready to play, ready to play anywhere.”

Callihan, ranked as Pittsburgh's No. 29 prospect, struck first with a solo shot in the fourth, and in the seventh, Brandon Lowe doubled for two runs to make it a 6-3 deficit and chase Ohtani. Another run crossed on an error by Max Muncy. Then came Callihan’s second shot. Spencer Horwitz added on with a two-run homer to stretch the lead to three, and Gregory Soto closed it out despite Ohtani going deep in the ninth.

Ohtani’s 0.74 ERA coming into the contest was the lowest in MLB among pitchers with a minimum of 50 innings. His stardom didn’t phase the Pirates, who became the first team to tally three or more runs off Ohtani this season. It certainly didn’t phase Callihan, who has been through the wringer to even earn an opportunity against the star pitcher.

The 25-year-old rookie played four games for the Reds in 2025 before a season-ending injury after a play in the outfield. Callahan was traded to the Pirates at the beginning of Spring Training right after landing in Goodyear, Ariz., and he was forced to quickly make the move to Bradenton, Fla.

The whirlwind continued after his callup on May 28. Callihan arrived at PNC Park after the first pitch against the Cubs and he entered the game for a banged-up Nick Gonzales. Callihan is now hitting .333 (4-for-12) and has played four positions.

With Cruz out for the foreseeable future, the Pirates have multiple outfield options both in the big leagues and Triple-A to fill the void. On Wednesday night against the game’s best, Callihan’s tryout was all Pittsburgh could ask for and more.

“Seizing an opportunity, I think, is a great way to put it,” Kelly said. “And for him to have that tonight, [we’re] certainly not expecting two home runs like that every night.”