The Pittsburgh Pirates regained the services of one of their key players Thursday ahead of their game at the Los Angeles Dodgers, as third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
The Pirates optioned right-hander Roansy Contreras to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Hayes, who has not played since June 24, was placed on the injured list June 28 with low back inflammation.
In his absence, Jared Triolo had been handling third base.
Triolo, 25, had performed well. In eight games with the Pirates, he has hit .286 with a double and three RBIs.
As for Hayes, in 74 games before being sidelined, he produced a .254 batting average to go along with five home runs, 16 doubles and 32 RBIs.
Hayes will bat leadoff and play third base Thursday in Los Angeles.
Contreras has bounced between the Pirates starting rotation and bullpen this season.
On the year, he owns a 3-7 record and 6.59 ERA, striking out 55 with 32 walks through 68 ⅓ innings.
Contreras’ demotion comes on the heels of a bad outing Wednesday.
Entering the game in place of starter Osvaldo Bido in the fifth inning with the Pirates leading 4-2, Contreras allowed four earned runs on three hits, two of which were home runs, including a three-run shot to J.D. Martinez that handed the Dodgers the lead.
The 23-year-old Contreras flashed potential in 2022, going 5-5 with a 3.79 ERA over 21 appearances, 18 of which were starts.
But this year, Contreras has struggled to find consistency. After a solid April saw him go 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA through five starts, Conteras’ ERA spiked to 5.18 in May, 12.46 in June, and, over two relief appearances and a combined 3 ⅓ innings in July, 18.90.
The Pirates will likely be making a corresponding call-up of a pitcher to take the mound Sunday vs. the Diamondbacks, the team’s last game before the All-Star break.
