BRADENTON, Fla. — The possibility of playing right field was discussed briefly between Ryan O’Hearn and the Pittsburgh Pirates during free agency, but the plan was for him to split time primarily at first base and designated hitter.
When the Pirates signed three-time All-Star designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, they called O’Hearn to notify him that plans were shifting. It was going to involve more time in right field than originally anticipated. The move allows the left handed-hitting Spencer Horwitz to play first base.
“It’s totally fine with me,” O’Hearn said. “Whatever I’ve got to do to get more hitters in the lineup and score runs is what I want to do.”
Since the start of spring training, O’Hearn has spent more time doing long toss and running to prepare his arm and legs for playing right field on a more frequent basis. He calls it “getting ready to go out there and be a solid right fielder.”
“Looks like I’m going to play some right field”
— Hannah Mears (@mearshannah_) February 21, 2026
Ryan O’Hearn will start in that spot this afternoon in Sarasota.
He shared his thoughts on playing outfield this year for the Pirates ⬇️#LetsGoBucs @SNPittsburgh @Rohearn11 pic.twitter.com/fdle5CFlDu
The 32-year-old O’Hearn has been below average in right field in his eight-year career, compiling minus-11 defensive runs saved. He had minus-4 DRS in 149 innings there over 21 games (16 starts) last season. At first base, he has a minus-10 career DRS but was plus-4 in 75 games (64 starts) last year.
O’Hearn has started in right field in his first five Grapefruit League games and got Pirates manager Don Kelly’s attention when he caught a line drive off the bat of Tampa Bay’s Hunter Feduccia at an exit velocity of 106.5 mph in the top of the third inning.
“He’s amazing. When you see the way he goes about it, that play in right field today, that line drive, that wasn’t an easy play and he made it look really easy coming in on it really smooth,” Kelly said. “It just goes to show you the competitor he is and the work that he’s put in out there. We’ll see him at first a little bit, too. He’s done a great job of adapting to right field and being able to read those because those line drives, they’re tough.”
Given that he’s played 101 games in right field in the majors (77 starts) compared to 385 at first base and 185 at DH, O’Hearn expects there to be a learning curve as he adjusts to his new home.
Playing right field at PNC Park can be an adventure, given the short porch to the 21-foot Clemente Wall that requires playing caroms off a chain-link fence, concrete and a video screen.
“Obviously at PNC Park, it’s a shorter right field than left,” said O’Hearn, who plans to work with outfield coach Tarrik Brock on the intricacies of the position. “I may have played a few innings in the outfield at PNC — a long time ago, years ago — but not substantially. Whenever we get up north, I’m definitely going to do that.”
O’Hearn doesn’t expect the additional exertion of playing in the outfield to affect his offense. So far, it hasn’t. He’s batting .364 (4 for 11) with a 1.136 OPS and hit a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in his Pirates debut on Feb. 21 in Sarasota.
“No. Why would it?” O’Hearn asked. “I didn’t sign up to be a DH. I want to be used however they need me. If it makes the most sense for the team for me to be a DH, then great. If it makes more sense for me to be in the outfield, then I’m going to attack that.”
After batting third in his first game, O’Hearn appears to have settled in to the cleanup spot over his past four. That would put the left-handed hitter in the heart of the order, getting protection in the lineup between the switch-hitting Bryan Reynolds and righty Ozuna.
“It’s great hitters on either side,” O’Hearn said. “I’ve hit in the four-hole a lot in my career. I’m comfortable there but, at the same time, if they move me one day, I’m not going to freak out about it. I’m pretty good with wherever they want me to hit.”
Kelly was impressed when he attempted to send a pinch runner in for O’Hearn after he drew a walk in the sixth inning, only to be rebuffed.
“We were going to pinch run for him and he shut it down,” Kelly said. “He wanted to stay out there and run. … He’s a baseball player. He’s going to be really good, regardless of whether he’s at first or outfield.”
