I don’t think Austin Hedges got a fair shot in Pittsburgh. I place the blame entirely on the Pirates front office for setting expectations too high.
This past offseason, the Pirates brought in veteran leaders for their various positions. Hedges was the addition behind the plate. He was added to help the pitching staff, and all through his time with a .467 OPS, the Pirates insisted there was hidden value in his game.
Hedges was an outstanding defender, which the stats display. You could also argue that he had an impact on the younger pitchers and players inside the clubhouse.