After coming to an agreement on the richest contract in Pittsburgh Pirates history, Ben Cherington got a scare when he saw Ke’Bryan Hayes leave the season opener in the first inning.
As the Pirates celebrated the official signing of Hayes to an eight-year, $70 million contract extension Tuesday before their home opener at PNC Park, their general manager reflected on the thumb spasm.
“It was an anxious moment,” Cherington said, “but mostly because I’m feeling for him, and it’s the last thing in the world he wants to have going on. Even contract aside, that’s the last thing he wants, to have to leave on Opening Day in the first inning. Certainly with the contract he’s aware of and the background, it had to be an anxious moment for him. I’m so grateful it is what it was, a random thing that happened that day.”
Agent Scott Lonergan said he called Hayes when the deal was agreed upon, only to hear fans asking for autographs as he crossed the street from the team hotel to Busch Stadium. Soon after, he saw Hayes exit the game holding the same left hand and wrist that caused him to spend two months on the injured list early last season.
“You go from the highest of highs to a terrifying moment,” Lonergan said. “I’m watching the TV and have no idea what’s going on. I texted him immediately and was like, ‘Are you OK?’ Thankfully, it was nothing structural. It was just a freak thing. As an agency, we’re all collectively holding our breath because Ke’Bryan is the definition of a true agency client.”
And Lonergan’s agency, the Dallas-based Ballengee Group, now has connections to the two richest contracts in Pirates history. Twenty-two years ago, Ballengee’s general counsel, Jeff Borris, negotiated Jason Kendall’s six-year, $60 million contract.
Suzuki shines
Seiya Suzuki came to the major leagues with a reputation as one of Japan’s most feared hitters and signed a contract worth almost $100 million.
The Chicago Cubs right fielder lived up to his lofty billing, hitting a pair of leadoff home runs in the 2-1 win over the Pirates at PNC Park. Pirates manager Derek Shelton called Suzuki, who slashed .317/.433/.640 with 38 homers and 88 RBIs in the NPB last year, “a pretty good hitter.”
“I think Major League Baseball is gonna find that out pretty quickly,” Shelton said. “Two good swings by Suzuki today, and that was the difference in the game.”
The 27-year-old Suzuki is answering any questions about whether his statistics would translate against major-league pitching. He homered off two Pirates lefties, drilling a 3-2 fastball by Jose Quintana 397 feet to straightaway center in the fifth and Anthony Banda’s 0-1 fastball 398 feet to left in the seventh.
“For a first impression, that’s pretty impressive,” Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman said of Suzuki. “I don’t care who you are or where you’re at, two homers in one night in any major league game is impressive. He put a couple really good swings on the ball.”
Pumped about bump
Zach Thompson got bumped from his first start with the Pirates when Monday’s game at St. Louis was rained out, and Pirates manager Derek Shelton wanted to keep Quintana on his regular schedule.
So Thompson was bumped back two days. Not that the right-hander, acquired from the Miami Marlins in the Jacob Stallings trade, is complaining about pitching Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park instead.
“I love that,” Thompson said. “Being able to be home is awesome.”
Thompson said he spent four days scouting the Cardinals, so he is taking a crash course on the Cubs and used Tuesday’s opener as a chance to study their swing paths.
The 6-foot-7 Thompson faced the Cubs twice last season, allowing one run while walking three and striking out seven in a 2-0 loss on June 20 and giving up one run on four hits and three strikeouts in a 5-4 win on Aug. 14. He intends to get early contact and induce ground balls.
“That’s the way I pitch, using my height, using my leverage,” Thompson said. “I want to make sure I get everything deep down the best I can.”
