Former Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes won the second Gold Glove award of his career in 2025 – but he did it as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.
This is the kind of moment that splits a fanbase down the middle – especially one like Pittsburgh’s, where pride in homegrown players constantly collides with frustration over the organization’s inability to build around them.
On the surface, trading away a two-time Gold Glover looks indefensible for a franchise starving for stability and star power. But when you peel back the layers, the move actually made baseball and organizational sense for where the Pirates were in 2025.