RADIO
Ryan O'Hearn Deserving of a Stash While on Injured List?
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) has been on the 10-day injured list since May 17 with a quadriceps injury, but he resumed working out on Monday and is worth a look as a stash candidate off the waiver wire with a potential return to the Bucs by the middle of June. The 32-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran has been solid so far in his first season in Pittsburgh, slashing .289/.368/.459 with an .827 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base across 44 games and 182 plate appearances. O'Hearn doesn't offer significant power or run production, but it's worth noting that he could continue to play regularly in the Steel City once healthy if he can maintain his gains against same-handed pitching. Through 50 plate appearances against lefties in 2026, O'Hearn has gone 13-for-47 (.277) with one of his seven home runs and a .300 on-base percentage. He's also eligible at first base, in addition to outfield, in Yahoo leagues. For at least outfield depth in deeper mixed leagues, O'Hearn is a stash candidate and is rostered in 58% of leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jhostynxon Garcia a Priority Addition with Power Potential?
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia was promoted to the majors last week, and he's an encouraging waiver wire target given his potential to launch home runs. Garcia has yet to homer through 27 MLB at-bats (between 2025 with the Red Sox and 2026 with the Pirates), but he launched 21 homers across 114 minor league games last year, and he had slugged another six this year. Strikeouts are a major concern for the 23-year-old, who owns a 28.6% K% in the majors in 2026. However, as he starts to get more comfortable against MLB pitching, his strikeout rate should go down and his home run rate should go up. There's above-average power potential here, so managers should consider making him a priority addition on the waiver wire. At the moment, he's still available in 98% of fantasy baseball leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan O'Hearn Does Agility Drills on Monday
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) left the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 16 after the third inning because of right-quad discomfort and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day with a right-quad muscle strain. O'Hearn worked in the outfield on Monday with agility/cone drills, according to MLB.com. Barring a setback once he starts ramping up more, O'Hearn is expected to come off the IL at some point in mid-June. Monday was the first activity that the 32-year-old veteran has done since injuring his quad. In his first year in the Steel City, O'Hearn has hit .289/.368/.459 with an .827 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base across 44 games and 182 plate appearances. Although he has just one home run against left-handers, he's gone a very respectable 13-for-47 (.277) against them with a .300 on-base percentage. O'Hearn is currently rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues. In his absence, the Bucs have been mixing and matching in right field with Esmerlyn Valdez, Jhostynxon Garcia, and Jake Mangum.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Pirates Promoting Esmerlyn Valdez, Viewed as Priority Waiver-Wire Target?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are promoting outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, a source told Pirates insider Jason Mackey. In a corresponding move, the team optioned outfielder Billy Cook to Indy. The 22-year-old is considered Pittsburgh's No. 9 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and the Dominican should have an opportunity to play alongside fellow outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia in right field with Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) currently on the injured list. Valdez will receive his first major-league call-up after hitting .253/.381/.506 with an .888 OPS, 10 home runs, 29 RBI, and 25 runs scored in 46 games across 194 plate appearances at Triple-A. The 6-foot-2, 234-pound right-handed hitter has intriguing raw power and has matured as a hitter this year on the farm to lower his swing-and-miss and chase rate. Because Valdez will most likely be in a platoon against left-handed pitchers, fantasy managers shouldn't overspend to roster him in mixed leagues in his first taste of the major leagues.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Jhostynxon Garcia Expected to Join the Pirates on Tuesday
Sports Columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Noah Hiles, reported on Monday morning that Jhostynxon Garcia is expected to join the Pirates on Tuesday in St. Louis. "The Password" is heading to the major leagues. Garcia is a 23-year-old right-handed hitter and the Pirates' No. 5-ranked prospect in their organization. The Pirates acquired him via trade in December of 2025 from Boston. So far in 2026, Garcia is slashing .242/.291/.463 with six home runs, 15 runs scored, 13 RBI, and no stolen bases. His BB/K ratio sits at 0.25. Last season, which spanned Double-A and Triple-A, Garcia slashed .267/.340/.470. Garcia projects well within the Pirates organization; however, from a fantasy standpoint, he is more of a wait-and-see prospect than a must-add. Garcia figures to work in right field to replace Jared Triolo or Jake Mangum from time to time. Garcia profiles elite raw power and high exit velocities to go with a strong arm in the outfield.
Source: Noah Hiles
Source: Noah Hiles
Ryan O'Hearn Goes on Injured List With Quad Strain
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) is going on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a right-quad strain, according to Pirates reporter Jason Mackey. O'Hearn was pulled from Saturday's game early against the Philadelphia Phillies with right-quad discomfort, and now the 32-year-old veteran will miss at least the next 10 games. O'Hearn went hitless in just one at-bat on Saturday before leaving and is hitting a strong .291/.370/.462 with an .832 OPS, seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and a stolen base in 158 at-bats over his first 43 games with the Pirates this year. Now that he will be sidelined for a bit of time, both Nick Yorke and Billy Cook could see more time in the Bucs' outfield for at least the next 10 days. O'Hearn's strong season to this point had earned him some looks off the waiver wire, and he's currently rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues. Surprisingly, O'Hearn has improved against lefties this year, going 13-for-46 (.283) with one of his seven home runs against them. UPDATE: General manager Ben Cherington said that O'Hearn's quad strain is "moderate" and is likely to keep him on the sidelines for around four weeks.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
