Pirates promote Hayes for Major League debut

Fourteen-year MLB veteran Charlie Hayes played 128 games with Pittsburgh before he was traded to the New York Yankees on August 30, 1996. Almost 24 years to the day, his son will don the black and gold himself.

Second-ranked Pirates prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes has been recalled from Pittsburgh's alternate site in Altoona, Pa. and will join the team ahead of Tuesday's game with the Chicago Cubs. He'll likely split time at third base with Colin Moran, who was just activated from the 7-day concussion IL.

Not Trade Deadline news, but significant nonetheless...

Pirates prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes is in Pittsburgh and is expected to be called up before tomorrow's series opener against the Cubs at PNC Park, sources tell me and @JonathanMayo.

— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) August 31, 2020

Hayes, who ranks as MLB.com's No. 45 overall prospect, missed most of the team's summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19 in July. He reported to Altoona shortly before the season began and has been working out at Peoples Natural Gas Field ever since.

After an impressive 2018 with Double-A Altoona in which he batted .293/.375/.444 with seven home runs, 47 RBIs and 12 stolen bases, Hayes started 2019 with Triple-A Indianapolis and posted a .261/.334/.411 line with 10 home runs, 55 RBIs and 13 steals in 110 games.

Hayes grades out at least above-average with every tool except power, where he's average, but his glove is his highest-rated trait. Hayes made just three errors in 287 total chances in 2019, and he also features plus arm strength from the hot corner.

The elder Hayes batted .248/.301/.368 in his 128 games with Pittsburgh after signing a four-year contract the prior offseason. The Pirates are hoping his son plays quite a few more games in the Steel City and holds down the left side of their infield with fellow 2015 first-round pick Kevin Newman for years to come.