Ryan O’Hearn is unquestionably one of the nicest players on the Pirates roster, the guy who organizes charity trips on the road, who treats everyone the same and ensures guys feel comfortable. But on a few occasions this season, O’Hearn hasn’t been afraid to stand his ground.
The topic has generally been the Pirates functioning differently than they have in the past, specifically on offense, and wondering why everyone seems so surprised at what this group has been doing. Which takes us to a familiar feeling Tuesday, when it was learned Konnor Griffin would miss 8-10 weeks with a torn sagittal band in his left ring finger.
The injury seemingly had fans once again questioning whether the franchise was cursed.
It’s only one game, but O’Hearn did his best to assuage those concerns, hitting three home runs and collecting a franchise-record 10 RBIs during the Pirates’ 12-4 dismantling of the Braves at PNC Park.
So much for the offense disintegrating without Griffin.
“Tough news,” O’Hearn said. “Obviously Konnor means a lot to our team and our lineup, and it sucks. … But we’re gonna keep rocking. We have good players.
“This is my favorite part of the year. You’re in it, chasing down that playoff spot, and we’re right in the thick of it right now. It’s fun to come to the yard every day, and I really like our team.”
While there was plenty to like in the micro — O’Hearn going bonkers, Paul Skenes delivering his ninth quality start and more — I couldn’t help but zoom out and think bigger picture.
The Pirates got punched in the gut Tuesday, to borrow manager Don Kelly’s phrase. Griffin was just rounding back into form, making a few absurd plays in Washington and stealing his 20th base. But his injury brought out the familiar question of why can’t Pirates fans have nice things?
Griffin will be out until September. A playoff race could be determined by then. However, the Pirates might actually be insulated enough against losing their phenom, because of this dangerous and dynamic offense.
Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz will return shortly after the All-Star break. O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe have been incredible offseason additions. Bryan Reynolds should be an All-Star. It’s tough not having Griffin, but the Pirates all season have shown they’re capable of replacing top-end players.
“It was tough news with Griffin,” Kelly said. “But these guys are tough, resilient and continue to fight. They’re gonna give us everything they’ve got every single night.”
My favorite swing of the night was O’Hearn obliterating a 2-0 slider down and away in the third for a 415-foot home run to center. Score: 7-2. Feel: blowout. It’s also when you can tell O’Hearn is truly at his best, when he’s going to center or left.
But it wasn’t just the monstrous game from the Pirates’ biggest free agent signing in a decade. Paul Skenes was pretty darn good, too. An important development to remember from this one.
Skenes began Tuesday with a 5.36 ERA and zero wins over his past nine starts. Questions swirled about his velocity, his health, attack plan and God knows what else.
The right-hander answered ‘em all with one of his better outings this season, allowing two earned runs over six innings for his ninth quality start.
Furthermore, Skenes walked one, struck out four and generated 12 whiffs. I really liked how much he used his four-seam fastball (51% compared to 38% on the year) and splinker (18% compared to 11%) and also how he was around the zone more.
Skenes’ heater averaged 97.1 mph, which is fine. The velocity drop can be excused if it’s in the name of better execution, and Skenes got that out of his heater against the Braves; the pitch netted eight of his whiffs.
“Kind of just felt good coming out of the bullpen and just rode with it for a while,” Skenes said.
If you think about it, that’s how the Pirates will have to address Griffin’s injury: ride with it for a while.
In the middle of a stretch where they’re playing 22 straight games against teams .500 or better — they’re 5-3 thus far — the Pirates can’t afford to crumble. They need to do just enough until the All-Star break, then hopefully get Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz back soon after.
Meanwhile, the Pirates need more out of the pitching staff led by Skenes. That group has taken it on the chin in the first half, pitching to a 4.27 ERA that ranks 18th in MLB. But there are several dials they can turn.
Skenes has another level. So do Mitch Keller and Jared Jones. There are also relievers who are more talented than they’ve shown. How soon the Pirates can get those course-corrections will go a long way toward determining their success this season.
“We've done a really good job responding all year,” Skenes said. “We have a few guys down right now.
“We show up, and you don't know who it's gonna be that day. But somebody's gonna do something cool and do something to win the game.”
It’s wild how far the Pirates have come. They’ve already hit 117 home runs, matching last year’s total. O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe are the first two Pirates teammates since Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla (in 1990) to have 60 or more RBIs before the All-Star break.
Bryan Reynolds isn’t far behind at 56. Cruz and Horwitz have had outstanding seasons, too.
But somebody had to set the tone.
Go figure it was the guy who doesn’t believe in history always repeating itself, who doesn’t deal in doom and gloom and who signed in Pittsburgh because he genuinely believes the Pirates can change how people perceives them.
“I didn’t do anything different or special today,” O’Hearn said. “Just saw the ball really well from the first pitch of the day and was just kind of like in cruise control mode.
“Got some good pitches to hit, and after the third one, I was like, ‘Oh man. No kidding. Today must be my day.’ ”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.