Not always a clear path for Hays

Outfielder has played 500 games after battling injuries

The path to 500 is hardly ever a direct route.

When Austin Hays appeared in Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a pinch hitter, it marked the 500th the Orioles outfielder has played in his MLB career. It’s a significant milestone for a player who struggled for years to shake the injury prone label, missing chunks of seasons at a time with various ailments and setbacks.

Since 2021, however, Hays has appeared in the second most games of anyone in an Orioles uniform and established himself as a mainstay in their lineup.

“That’s a lot of baseball games,” Hays said of approaching the mark. “Becoming an everyday player was a difficult thing. It took a few years from the time I debuted to get back up in 2019 and kind of solidify myself as an everyday starter and not just a guy that was going to be platooned. So, it means a lot to me to know that I earned my way and got that spot and still have it and still fighting for it every day to just make sure I continue to be an everyday player.”

Hays, 28, was the first member of the 2016 MLB draft class to reach the majors, earning a September call-up in 2017 after a hot start to his minor league career. His momentum was slowed by a nagging ankle injury the following year that eventually required surgery. Hays fell just short of making the team in 2018 but tore a ligament in his thumb days later, further delaying his return to Baltimore.

After coming back from that and a hamstring strain, Hays returned to the majors in September 2019. He finally made the team out of camp in 2020 but missed 27 games of the pandemic-shortened campaign with a fractured rib. Even when he was playing, he was mostly limited to facing lefthanded pitching. Injuries continued to crop up in 2021, when he suffered strains in both hamstrings and tore a muscle in his core on a diving catch.

Yet since being activated from the injured list June 11, 2021, Hays has not returned to the IL. He’s still dealt with a litany of injuries over the past three years, including two separate cuts that required stitches and a wrist injury he suffered making a defensive play in 2022 that was exacerbated when he was hit by a pitch in the same spot.

He’s gritted his way through it all and established himself as a dependable player for manager Brandon Hyde.

“It’s been fun watching him mature and progress as a player since my first year here in ‘19,” Hyde said. “I’m comfortable putting him in the three spots in the outfield. The way he throws, he’s won us a lot of games with his defense. And offensively, when he’s healthy, he’s swung the bat really well for us and so that’s been the key for him.

“He’s tried to be healthy all throughout the year. He’s done that the last couple of years as best as he possibly could.”

Hays was the third active member of the Orioles to reach the 500 mark, joining fellow outfielders Anthony Santander (598) and Cedric Mullins (553) after they made it last season. The outfield trio all arrived in Baltimore during the team’s lengthy rebuild and established themselves as the veteran half of the Orioles’ now-competitive core.

“That’s good, happy for him, excited for that number to come into his career,”

Santander said. “Every time we’re talking about this guy, I always say, ‘I told you guys.’ I told you we’re going be the future of the Baltimore Orioles the first time I met him [in] 2018 and so, happy for him. He’s a guy who comes to the field every day with energy and working hard to improve his game every single day and that’s great for him.”

The key for Hays will be to play another 500 games. While he showed how much he was capable of when healthy by making the American League All-Star team last season, Hays still must continue to validate his spot in the lineup with outfield prospects Colton Cowser, who made the team out of camp, and Heston Kjerstad, off to a red-hot start with Triple-A Norfolk, proving ready for everyday roles. Hays is only signed through the 2025 season and might end up reaching 1,000 games in another uniform if he doesn’t reach an agreement with the team on an extension.

His ability to stay in the lineup will also depend on his health, whether he hits the injured list or not. While Hays has managed to play through his series of injuries over the past few seasons, it’s not the most sustainable practice. Even in 2022, his wrist injury hindered his production at the plate during the second half.

Absorbing injuries will only become more difficult as he gets older, as will playing through them. If he can find a way to avoid them all together, another 500 games is well within reach.

He doesn’t plan for it to take as long to get there.

“Hopefully getting there a lot quicker this time,” Hays said. “If you play 162 a year, what would that be? Three and a half seasons? So, try to get another 500 in three and a half years. That’s a pretty good goal.”