Ke’Bryan Hayes wasn’t all the time one of the best fielder in his household rising up. His dad, Charlie, performed 14 years within the Majors, and Tyree, the center of three Hayes sons, was the fielder Ke’Bryan seemed as much as at a younger age.
Ke’Bryan confirmed a knack within the area early, particularly at shortstop and third base. On the identical time, his dad and brother stored hammering residence the identical message.
“For those who weren’t catching the ball, you weren’t on the sector,” Hayes mentioned. “As I acquired older, they careworn to me that if you become old, you’re not all the time going to get three or 4 hits a sport. You’ve acquired to have the ability to affect the sport — like base working or, extra importantly, protection. Protection goes to win video games on the finish of the day.”
Evidently, their educating resonated. Hayes has develop into arguably one of the best fielder within the sport, and his 64 defensive runs saved since 2020 are 20 greater than the following closest participant throughout that stretch (present teammate Michael A. Taylor had 44 defensive runs saved throughout that point). Final 12 months, Hayes was acknowledged for his excellent protection, successful his first Gold Glove Award, which he’ll obtain as a part of the Pirates’ residence opener festivities Friday.
In Miami, Hayes rewatched a few of his most troublesome profitable performs from 2023 and broke down his pondering and course of, giving some perception into how a Gold Glove Award winner approaches his craft. Some solutions had been briefly condensed for readability, with comply with ups in italics.
PLAY 1Game: April 9, 2023, at homeBatter: Oscar Colás, high 7Key stat: Wanted to cowl 94 toes on the throw
“Numerous instances, some guys peek a little bit bit after they’re both strolling to the plate or they first get in there. I used to be sort of anticipating it. If I’ve a slight feeling, particularly first pitch — generally they will sort of get you if they’ve a strike on them already — however generally, whether or not they bunt or not, I anticipate it, and I believe that may have saved me a little bit bit on that one.”
PLAY 2Game: June 11, 2023, at homeBatter: Tommy Pham, high 4Key stat: Pham was working at 29.4 ft./sec
“It’s a type of balls, proper on proper, sinker, so after they get round it, it has that spin going to the road. In case your first step isn’t inside that ball, generally you’ve acquired to backhand it. Tommy Pham runs very well, so I knew I needed to eliminate it fairly fast. It’s a type of do-or-die performs.
“Numerous instances when you could have these forms of performs, you simply attempt to be one of the best athlete you may. Eliminate it, make the strongest throw you may.”
PLAY 3Game: Aug. 28, 2023, at Kansas CityBatter: Bobby Witt Jr., backside 6Key stat: Witt’s batted ball had a 106 mph exit velocity
“Since [Johan Oviedo] is pitching, he’s acquired that working fastball. Witt’s a man who does loads of injury to the pull aspect. He’s forward within the depend. I’ve the PitchCom now, so I do know what pitch is coming. You must anticipate the ball’s coming to you, so after they smoke one, hopefully it doesn’t catch you unexpectedly. Numerous instances on these performs, you simply attempt your finest to be as athletic as potential.”
How a lot does having the PitchCom affect your setup?
“I believe quite a bit. Numerous instances in my head, I’m enjoying out outcomes that may occur, whether or not there’s guys on or not. The PitchCom takes a little bit little bit of that ingredient out of every pitch. Realizing who’s coming, who’s hitting, what kind of pitches they hit, the place they hit sure pitches. Think about should you’re hitting and you recognize what pitch is coming. That’s how a lot that helps me.”
PLAY 4Game: Sept. 19, 2023, at ChicagoBatter: Nico Hoerner, backside 6Key stat: It took Hayes 0.53 seconds to alternate the ball from the glove to his hand
“Nico hits — I wouldn’t say a great quantity of floor balls, however with our pitching workers, we get a great quantity of floor balls. It’s a type of performs the place it’s sort of in between. Typically it’s loud and the shortstop doesn’t actually hear you name for it. As an infielder at third, and even at quick once I was youthful, these balls the place you’re assembly [with another infielder], I used to be all the time taught rising as much as get the whole lot. Get the whole lot you may. If it will get previous you, that man might be behind you.”
“Realizing how tender it was hit and understanding the angle I needed to go at, I knew I needed to eliminate it fast as a result of Nico runs very well. Simply loads of reps.”
PLAY 5Game: Sept. 24, 2023, at CincinnatiBatter: Jake Fraley, backside 1Key stat: Hayes accelerates and decelerates from 25.8 ft./sec, simply 1.3 ft./sec off his common dash pace
“I really feel like pop-ups down the road, I’ve gotten quite a bit higher at these as I’ve gotten older. I really feel like being acquainted with the ballpark, and actually, when that ball’s within the air, having the ability to test the place you might be. It actually comes all the way down to understanding the ballpark and understanding how a lot room you could have.”
Are you conserving an ear out for a coach or somebody?
“Yeah, loads of instances you may hear them, however loads of instances, I prefer to depend on myself, particularly with these. They’re seeing an entire completely different angle than I’m, but it surely helps to listen to them saying, ‘you could have room, you could have room.’”
