CHICAGO -- The Pirates are almost back to full strength. After recent returns of Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin, the last piece of the puzzle is left-handed slugger Ryan O'Hearn.
O’Hearn returned to action Tuesday night for Triple-A Indianapolis to open his rehab assignment from a left quad strain. With the Indians, O’Hearn went 1-for-3 while batting second and playing first for seven innings. O’Hearn hopes to rejoin the team in Chicago when they take on the Cubs beginning Friday.
O’Hearn suffered the injury on July 31 in Cincinnati while running to first base in the ninth inning. He required assistance getting off the field and used a crutch in the clubhouse postgame. O’Hearn suffered a right quad injury earlier in the season, but returned far before his expected timeline. He looks to do the same with the left quad, as his return is near the earlier end of an expected six-to-eight-week absence.
“No surgery or anything like that, and a chance to return for playoffs at the end of the year,” O’Hearn said on Aug. 1 after being placed on the 10-day injured list. “That is what I am holding on to.”
O’Hearn fell behind 0-2 to former Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin and ripped a double to center field in his first at-bat. He followed with a popup to third base before a strikeout in his third at-bat.
In his first season of a two-year, $29 million deal with the Pirates, O’Hearn is batting .270 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs despite playing in only 96 games.