The Pirates’ busy week continued as Ryan O’Hearn agreed to a two-year, $29 million deal on Tuesday, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The club has not confirmed the agreement.
Over 544 plate appearances split between the Orioles and Padres, the first baseman/corner outfielder/designated hitter O’Hearn posted an .803 OPS with a career-best 17 home runs. While his strikeout rate (20%) was up from the prior season, so was his walk rate (10.7%).
Defensively, O’Hearn has made 334 of his 423 MLB starts at first base, where his glovework graded out well last season — his +6 Fielding Run Value was tied for third among qualifiers at the position. And he was solid in terms of defensive runs saved, as well, with +4.
O’Hearn, who will be entering his age-32 campaign in 2026, began his Major League career with the Royals in 2018. After making a good first impression — the left-handed hitter belted 12 home runs with a .950 OPS over 170 plate appearances — he struggled in the years that followed, posting a .633 OPS in sporadic playing time from 2019-22. But then he was acquired by the Orioles, and it was with Baltimore that his career turned around.
From 2023-24, O’Hearn hit .275/.329/.450 (120 OPS+) with 29 home runs in 862 plate appearances. Shortly after getting a surprising starting nod at DH for the AL in the 2025 All-Star Game (thanks in part to Rafael Devers’ trade to the Giants), he was traded along with Ramón Laureano to San Diego, where he hit .276 with four homers down the stretch.
In addition to his overall offensive improvement, O’Hearn has gradually increased his production against left-handed pitching — this past season, he posted an .832 OPS against southpaws, up from .605 in 2024.
