‘High IQ’ plays help Hayes save runs for Pirates

When Ke’Bryan Hayes saw first baseman Endy Rodriguez crash into catcher Joey Bart on a Willson Contreras pop fly in the eighth inning, one word crossed the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman’s mind.

“Whenever they hit, they hit pretty hard,” Hayes said. “In my head, I was like, ‘Dang.’” What Hayes did next left everyone with the same reaction. The ball landed in foul territory, so Hayes scooped it up with his glove just in time to tag Thomas Saggese before he could cross home plate.

“It’s definitely a play I never had happen to me in my life,” Hayes said. “I’m just glad we were able to get the out.”

Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller said he was amazed to see Hayes have the wherewithal to tag Saggese when everyone else stood in stunned silence, saving a run in a game that was scoreless until the 12th inning.

“It’s just the player Ke’Bryan is, a high-IQ player,” Keller said. “Just really good plays.”

It was one of two runs Hayes saved defensively in the 2-1 walk-off win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday at PNC Park. With Nolan Arenado on third base in the 12th inning, Hayes fielded a grounder by Pedro Pages and tagged Arenado out to keep runners on first and second. Justin Lawrence got Victor Scott II to pop out to short to end the frame.

“I’m always trying to make all the plays out there on defense,” Hayes said. “In those type of games, those plays are big plays.”

That Hayes happened to be in the right place at the right time was no coincidence. The 2023 NL Gold Glove winner has a habit of making spectacular plays look routine — such as his barehanded scoop and throw to get Masyn Winn out in the sixth — but continually impresses teammates by being perfectly positioned to make plays.

“Ke’Bryan is a crazy smart player, a really, really instinctual player,” Bart said. “He has the best internal clock I’ve ever seen by a player on the field. He slows the game down better than anybody. That’s why he is who he is.”

Per Fangraphs, Hayes recorded 75 defensive runs saved through his first five seasons to establish himself as the premier defensive third baseman in baseball. That’s even more impressive when considering that he unseated Arenado, who tied Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt by winning 10 consecutive NL Gold Gloves.

“I’ve said this over the course of the last five years: He’s the best defender in baseball, when he’s on the field and when he’s healthy,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said, noting how hard Hayes has worked to maintain his health after being beset by chronic back issues. “But he’s a game changer. You’re watching a guy on the other side that’s going into the Hall of Fame and has more Gold Gloves than anybody aside from Brooks Robinson at that position, and Ke’Bryan Hayes is an elite defender.”

Hayes slipped to 10 DRS last season, when his bothersome back limited his effectiveness and he played only 96 games. Through 100 1/3 innings this season, Hayes had a minus-1 DRS per FanGraphs despite not committing any errors in 25 chances while recording nine putouts, 16 assists and turning two double plays. But his glove work and quick thinking at third base against the Cardinals showed how much Hayes can impact a game with his defense.

“It’s still early, but I’m feeling pretty good,” Hayes said. “I’m trying to stick with the routine I’ve had since the offseason. I try not to think about it. I just try to make all the plays that I can, get to all the balls that I can. I’m feeling good so far. More importantly, I just want to get wins.”