Photo provided by Danny Demilio
The Pittsburgh Pirates officially signed first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million contract on Thursday afternoon.
O’Hearn becomes the first free agent the Pirates have signed to a multi-year deal in nearly a decade and his guaranteed salary is the largest for a position player off the open market in franchise history.
It’s a significant commitment from the Pirates and one that makes plenty of sense on paper.
“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,” general manager Ben Cherington said during a press conference at PNC Park. “Cleary Ryan checks all those boxes.”
O’Hearn was named an All-Star for the first time in his career this past season as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. The 32-year-old totaled 94 games for Baltimore and slashed .283/.374/.463 with 15 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 43 RBI.
He was traded to the Padres at the deadline and helped lead San Diego to the postseason and a second place finish in the National League West.
After putting on his No. 29 Pirates jersey for the first time on the podium accompanied by Cherington, O’Hearn expressed his excitement about starting a new chapter with Pittsburgh.
“First of all, I want to say, I couldn’t be anymore excited to be a Pirate. I love the stadium, I love the city, what it’s about.”
O’Hearn’s postseason appearance with the Padres in 2025 was his third straight year that ended in the playoffs. The Dunedin, Fla., native was part of the Orioles team that won 101 games and the American League East in 2023 and guided Baltimore back to the postseason as a wild card team the following season.
Unlike O’Hearn’s streak of postseason appearances, the team he’s now joined is looking for its first playoff appearance since 2015.
Despite seven consecutive losing seasons in Pittsburgh, O’Hearn believes the Pirates are on the verge of contending.
“I did my research before I made a decision and it’s a team that can pitch and just seemed like one or two pieces away from being a legit contender.”
Led by reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, the Pirates’ pitching staff was among the better units in baseball in 2025. The offense, however, finished last in several major categories including runs scores, home runs and OPS.
With the addition of O’Hearn, as well as fellow 2025 All-Star Brandon Lowe, the Pirates’ offense appears to be in much better shape than it was last season.
“Brandon Lowe is a hitter I’ve admired over the past few years,” said O’Hearn. “I got to talk to him quite a bit at the All-Star game last year…That kind of moved the needle for me too.”
The pitching staff already in place, the addition of Lowe and some other pieces this offseason and a 45-minute conversation with manager Don Kelly that sealed the deal, ultimately led O’Hearn to take a chance on joining a team desperate for winning baseball.
O’Hearn is hoping his experience in the big leagues will have the same impact on a relatively young clubhouse as his presence in the lineup to make it four straight personal playoff appearances and the city of Pittsburgh’s first in 11 years.
“For this team to go to the playoffs, we’ve got to believe that we can do it,” he said. “That’s something that I’m going to be talking about from the minute we get to spring training: ‘Hey, we’re going to win. We’re going to go to the playoffs.’ Because if you don’t believe it, then nobody else will.”
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