BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates announced that third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is day to day after sustaining a minor right ankle sprain several days ago during practice and won’t play “for a brief period of time.” Hayes can participate in all baseball activities aside from running. His status for Opening Day is unclear.

“The fact that he did the baseball activities today is an encouraging sign, but we’re just going to have to see how he feels,” manager Derek Shelton said.

Hayes, 25, last appeared in a game March 25. In four games this spring, Hayes has four hits, all singles, in 12 at-bats.

Hayes was limited to 96 games last season, missing time due to left wrist, left hand and right hand ailments. The injuries limited Hayes at the plate — he posted an 88 wRC+ over 396 plate appearances — but he was still masterful on the defensive end. Despite playing roughly 60% of the season, Hayes finished with the fourth-most defensive runs saved.

If Hayes is unavailable for Opening Day, Hoy Park and Diego Castillo are candidates to hold down the hot corner until Hayes’ return. Park played third base Tuesday, while Castillo played the position Saturday and Sunday. If Hayes is available and ready to go, then the final spot on the Pirates’ bench will likely go to one of Park or Castillo, both of whom have compelling arguments.

The competition for the potential final spot on the Pirates’ bench further intensified Tuesday as Park smacked his second home run of the spring and drew a walk.

On Sunday, Castillo impressed with a two-run home run off Gerrit Cole. With seven games remaining, both players are firmly in the race to be with the team in St. Louis.

Park, 25, has three hits, two home runs and a walk in 11 at-bats while spending time at second base, third base and shortstop. Castillo, 24, is 5-for-16 with a home run and 3 RBIs and has impressed at the hot corner.

Mitch Keller unscored upon again

With every passing start, Mitch Keller looks more and more on the verge of a breakout season.

Keller continued his phenomenal spring with four scoreless innings, four strikeouts and no walks. The right-hander ran into trouble in both the first and fourth innings but pitched his way out of trouble on both occasions. Three starts in, Keller is further establishing his case as the Pirates’ potential ace.

“Any time you can go four scoreless is cool, and I was feeling good with all my pitches and stuff, so that feels really good too,” Keller said.

Shelton added: “His stuff played through the end of the fourth. We saw the velocity. We saw the ability to spin the breaking ball. The slider stayed sharp. I think the fact that he maintained his stuff that long was the most encouraging sign.”

Across 8 2/3 innings this spring, Keller hasn’t yielded a single run with seven strikeouts and one walk. He’s far and away been Pittsburgh’s best pitcher during Spring Training, but he is unlikely to be the team’s Opening Day starter due to timing.

The right-hander's next start will likely be April 3, meaning he won’t have a full five days of rest come the season’s first game April 7. Circumstances could change, but as of right now, the likely outcome is that he starts the second game of the season with José Quintana getting the Opening Day nod.

Worth noting

• With three home runs Tuesday, the Pirates are now tied with the Rangers for the second-most home runs in Spring Training (24), just behind the Yankees (25).

“We've taken good swings and we've got some balls up in the air,” Shelton said. “I don't really think that'll maintain, us leading the league in homers, but the fact that our guys have taken some good swings and gotten some balls elevated is a positive sign.”

• Kevin Newman’s three-run home run registered an exit velocity of 107.8 mph. Last season, Newman only hit one ball as hard, a 109.4 mph groundout.

"What really stood out to me today in that at-bat was he took a breaking ball down [and another] breaking ball down to get himself into a fastball count, and then didn't miss the fastball," Shelton said.

• The Pirates will be featured on Apple TV+’s “Friday Night Baseball” on May 20 when they host the Cardinals at PNC Park. The game will be free and does not require a subscription.