O'Hearn chose the Pirates, not just for PNC Park's short right field porch, but for their pitching dominance, including Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.
Good pitching stops good hitting, so the adage goes. In this case, though, good pitching attracted good hitting.
When Ryan O’Hearn was considering which team to sign with as a free agent, the Pittsburgh Pirates were an attractive option despite finishing in last place in the National League Central last season. The veteran first baseman/outfielder knew that PNC Park favors left-handed hitters and thought it would be cool to pull a home run over the right field stands and into the Allegheny River.
Yet it was pitching that ultimately helped persuade the 32-year-old to sign a two-year, $29.5-million contract with the Pirates, finalized on Thursday.
“I did some research,” O’Hearn said during his introductory press conference. “This team in 2025 was top 10 in WHIP, ERA, and strikeouts. I want to be part of a team that's going to win, and to win, you got to pitch. That's one thing I've learned in my career. It's not fun being on defense three hours a night. To be a winning team, you have to pitch. You have to have a starting rotation. You have to have great bullpen guys. On that side of the ball, you've got to be good.”
The Pirates finished seventh in ERA in the major leagues last season, and Paul Skenes won the NL Cy Young Award. He fronts a rotation that includes Mitch Keller and youngsters Bubba Chandler and Braxton Ashcraft.
“That's one thing that really stood out to me about this team,” O’Hearn said. “Obviously, Paul Skenes is a generational talent. In addition to him, there are other young guys with great stuff who are coming into their own. That was attractive for me, to be on a team that could pitch.”
What made O’Hearn an attractive free agent for the Pirates is that he can hit. Last season, he was the starting designated hitter for the American League in the All-Star Game during a year in which he hit .281/.366/.437 with 17 home runs in 144 games. The Pirates finished last in the major leagues in runs scored and home runs in 2025.
“We went into the offseason, as everybody knows, intent on adding to our lineup, adding to our offense and, in particular, ideally with a proven, major league left-handed bat,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “Clearly, Ryan checks all those boxes and just as important to us, based on our work this offseason, Ryan also checks all of the character, teammate, and human being boxes that we want in the guys walking into the group, getting ready to play and win games every night.”
The Pirates haven’t won much for a long time. They have finished with losing records in 29 of the last 33 seasons. O’Hearn believes he could help turn the franchise around.
“I’m going to get after it,” O’Hearn said. “I don’t like to strike out. I like to play hard. Fans may see a very serious face. I’m going to smile when I do something good, but I’m going to be locked in. I like to get after it. I don’t like to strike out. I want to play great defense. Just really leave it all out there.
“I’m obsessed with baseball. I love it, and I’m 32. Every year that I get to continue playing this game, I fall more in love with it. I’m more obsessed with it. I feel like I’m getting better. I’ve always kind of been a late bloomer. I feel like I’m still getting better.”