Pittsburgh Pirates faithful got an early Christmas present with Tuesday’s signing of free agent Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year contract. The price tag was $29 million, the same average annual value for which the Pirates are committed to pay new acquisition Brandon Lowe, but with $500,000 in incentives each season.
The left-handed-batting O’Hearn, 32, plays first base and the corner outfield and has also been used as a designated hitter. The word is that he’ll be used in all three spots as a Pirate. Let’s look at the fallout on the Pirates roster and project what the starting lineup might look like with O’Hearn.
Ryan O’Hearn and the Pirates
O’Hearn is an eight-year veteran who’s played for the Kansas City Royals (2018-2022), Baltimore Orioles (2023-2025), and San Diego Padres (2025). Last season for two teams, he hit .281/.366/.437, 17 HR, and 63 RBI, which translates to a solid 127 wRC+ and a .349 wOBA. His .803 OPS was better than anybody’s on the current Pirates roster. Like Lowe, O’Hearn was an American League All-Star in 2025.
For his career, O’Hearn has hit .252/.321/.421, 84 HR, and 313 RBI. If those numbers strike one as pedestrian, note that he’s made marked improvements in all aspects of his offensive game since leaving Kansas City, where he hit .219/.293/.390. His batting eye has improved. After walking just 54 times from 2020-2023, he drew 104 walks from 2024-2025. O’Hearn has steadily gotten better against left-handed pitching as well. For his career, he’s hit just .217/.287/.355 against lefties. In 2025, he touched up the left-handers to the tune of .278/.358/.474.
First baseman Ryan O’Hearn and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on a two-year, $29 million contract, sources tell ESPN. O’Hearn, 32, is the latest addition to the Pirates in a very busy winter. @ByRobertMurray was first on the news.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 23, 2025
The Fallout
Like any addition to the roster, there will be snowball effects. The 40-man roster is full. Somebody must be removed when O’Hearn is officially added.
The Pirates now have two left-handed-hitting first basemen in O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz. Horwitz’s .787 OPS was the best on the team. The Pirates needed a right-handed platoon partner for Horwitz. That problem might be solved thanks to the versatility of O’Hearn. It’s easy to imagine Horwitz starting at first base against right-handers with O’Hearn in the outfield. Against left-handers, O’Hearn can move to first base, and the right-handed Jhostynxon García or the switch-hitting Jake Mangum can man the outfield. Essentially, Horwitz will platoon with an outfielder.
There has also been some doubt about whether Andrew McCutchen will re-sign for another year. It says here that “Cutch” will be back. The Pirates’ lineup is now overly slanted toward left-handers with O’Hearn, Lowe, Horwitz, Oneil Cruz, and switch-hitters Bryan Reynolds and Mangum. A solid right-handed hitter will be needed to provide some protection. At this point, that might be too big a task for youngsters García, Henry Davis, or Jared Triolo.
This could also spell the end of Jack Suwinski in a Pirates uniform. After leading the Pirates with 26 home runs in 2023, over the last two seasons, the left-handed hitter has hit .169/.271/.297, 12 HR, and 36 RBI while traveling back and forth from Pittsburgh to Triple-A Indianapolis. General manager Ben Cherington has paid lip service to the notion that Suwinski is still in the outfield mix. However, with so many left-handed-hitting outfielders, one wonders where Suwinski fits. It seems more likely that he’ll be bumped off the 40-man than he’ll break camp with the big club.
The Last Word
Cherington says that he’s still looking for hitting. Thus, the above analysis will change with another trade or signing, as will the following lineup projections. But lineup projections are fun, so let’s do it anyway. I’m still figuring that Konnor Griffin will start the season with the Pirates and incumbent second baseman Nick Gonzales will play a reserve role. I also continue to believe that the improved offense will allow Davis and Triolo to step in as regulars based strictly on their glove work.
Against right-handed pitching: Griffin, SS, Horwitz, 1B/DH, Reynolds, RF, O’Hearn, LF/1B/DH, Lowe, 2B, Cruz, CF, Mangum, LF/DH, Davis, C, Triolo, 3B.
Against left-handed pitching: Griffin, SS, Mangum, CF/LF, Reynolds, RF, O’Hearn, 1B, McCutchen, DH, Lowe, 2B, García, LF/CF, Davis, C, Triolo, 3B.
Main Photo Credit: © Denis Poroy-Imagn Images