'Frustrated' by bothersome back, Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes denies report about trade

Ke’Bryan Hayes is the first to say he’s frustrated, though it’s not with the Pittsburgh Pirates but rather the bothersome back issues that have sidelined the third baseman since late June.

Hayes said he was caught off guard when his mother told him about a report on 93.7 FM that suggested he “wasn’t necessarily super happy” with the Pirates and wouldn’t stand in the way of a trade despite his eight-year, $70 million contract.

“I was like, ‘Huh?’ It’s not true,” Hayes said Wednesday morning before the Pirates played the Cleveland Guardians at PNC Park. “I’m fine here. I’ve been frustrated dealing with this back thing for the second time again, but I’ve always loved being here. The fans have always treated me well. I like being here. It’s quiet. It’s just like where I’m at back home (in Houston). It’s not true.”

Spending his second stint on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation, Hayes has played in only one game since June 24 but is working toward a return. He ran linear sprints, took ground balls and batting practice in the cage, working up a full sweat. The key for Hayes is how he feels the day after such a workout.

“He’s making progress,” said Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates’ director of sports medicine. “We’re hopeful, optimistic that he’ll continue to get baseball practice reps through this weekend to, hopefully, put him in a position to go out and get some at-bats prior to any type of activation. All in all, with Ke’Bryan, there’s progress.”

Hayes said his back discomfort is similar to what caused his shutdown last September and stems from his hips, which can get out of alignment. When his hips are out of line, Hayes found that his body weight isn’t distributed evenly in both legs and one side bears a higher percentage than the other, which causes a throbbing pain in his back and left side.

Hayes believes he’s getting close to returning and is hopeful trying orthotic insoles could help with the problem.

“Definitely. Just here and there, afterwards I’m feeling some stuff,” Hayes said. “That’s why I’ve kind of been day to day. I haven’t been able to make that full jump to my full work day. But I’m definitely feeling better, especially from last week. I’ve been getting more information on my back and just trying to find ways to help myself recover after (workouts), because where we are at in the season, it’s not going to be perfect. It’s just really to where I can feel comfortable to be able to go out there and do my job. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Tomczyk said Hayes might require a rehabilitation assignment before returning to the Pirates, given that he’s missed more than two weeks of games. After spending his offseason concentrating on his core and trunk stability, Hayes wonders whether his back issues resurfaced because of the hitting and running the bases, the diving involved in playing defense or the fatigue from playing in 74 of the Pirates’ first 76 games.

“It’s been super frustrating,” said Hayes, who is batting .252/.290/.393 with 16 doubles, five triples, five home runs and 32 RBIs. “I felt like I had it under control throughout the first 70-75 games I played in. On that road trip when we were in Miami, that’s when it started.

“The reality is, you can’t feel like you feel in the offseason or right when you get to spring training all year. It’s just not realistic. I’m doing my best to try to get to where I can feel comfortable, where I’m not having to manipulate stuff to where I can just go and be me and play.”

In other injury-related news:

• Tomczyk said shortstop Oneil Cruz (broken ankle) is making progress and throwing long toss up to 120 feet.

Two weeks ago, Tomczyk said Cruz had not begun any hitting activities. Not long after that, Cruz started advanced plyometric work in the weight room, simulating hitting.

“Which is awesome,” Tomczyk said. “He is getting closer and closer to resuming formal hitting progression. Most importantly, Oneil is making a nice progression. … It was a traumatic injury, but he’s making nice strides.”

• Second baseman/center fielder Ji Hwan Bae (left ankle) has taken ground balls on the field at PNC Park with Cruz and Hayes.

“We’re dealing with more of a ligamentous-type injury with Bae,” Tomczyk said. “He’s not going to be on the road trip with the team. He’s going to stay back and work with our rehab team here at PNC Park. But we envision him getting some type of rehab outing or rehab innings when the team returns from the West Coast.”

• Reliever Jose Hernandez (calf strain) pitched for Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday night and came out “feeling pretty good.”

• The Pirates have not started a formal throwing program for pitcher Jarlin Garcia (nerve issue in the left bicep), but he has been throwing for the past three weeks.

“The (medical) group continues to be creative in different ways to stimulate that nerve,” Tomczyk said. “As we talked about numerous times, nerves take a very long time to re-grow. You’ll see him throwing outside, but it’s not with full strength. So, we have not begun a formal throwing program in preparation for any type of return.

“We’ve been pushing the envelope, if you must, trying to be creative and having him throw. He’s playing catch with some of his teammates, which a lot of it is psychological. Keep him engaged and keep that going.”

• Tomczyk reported “exciting times” for pitcher Max Kranick, who had Tommy John surgery 13 months ago.

“He’s getting back into competition or sim-game competition,” he said. “That will happen later this week, if not early next. So, very nice accomplishment for the rehab team, notably for Max to progress to that type of level activity.”