The Drive to 100

Ten Runs

On July 7, Ryan O'Hearn hit three home runs and drove in ten for the Pittsburgh Pirates, setting a franchise single-game RBI record. The third of those home runs was the 100th of his career. Teammate Paul Skenes called the performance selfish — joking, because the homers cleared the bases and killed potential rallies.

Skenes was ribbing a 32-year-old in his ninth major-league season who made his first All-Star team in 2025. The Pirates describe O'Hearn as a clubhouse leader who treats all teammates equally regardless of background or status, with an interest in golf and team music.

The Hour to Clearwater

O'Hearn was born in Dunedin, Florida. His mother, Christine, worked as a guidance counselor at his elementary school. Three or four times a week after work, she drove him about an hour to Clearwater for hitting lessons. She was so tired she would put the car in park at red lights, close her eyes, and ask Ryan to wake her when the light turned green.

He went undrafted out of Wakeland High School in Frisco, Texas, despite batting .505 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs as a senior and earning Baseball America second-team High School All-American honors. He enrolled at Sam Houston State University, and Kansas City took him in the eighth round, 243rd overall, in 2014. His first professional summer, with the Idaho Falls Chukars, he hit .361 with 13 home runs and was named Pioneer League MVP.

He debuted with the Royals on July 31, 2018. Five seasons in Kansas City, three in Baltimore, a stop in San Diego in 2025, then Pittsburgh. He has played 828 games and is a career .255 hitter with 650 hits and 377 runs batted in.

Still in the Lineup

Through 88 games this season, O'Hearn has 16 home runs and 90 hits. He is an outfielder for the Pirates, batting left-handed at 32.

Reporting: MLB.com, Sam Houston State Athletics, MiLB.com, Yahoo Sports. Career and biographical data: MLB StatsAPI, via the Fever engine.