Expect Ryan O'Hearn back soon, starting rehab

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – First baseman Ryan O'Hearn has been taking live batting practice and several drills at first base over the last few days, now the veteran will start a rehab assignment with AAA Indianapolis on Tuesday. O'Hearn has been out since July 31 due to a second hamstring injury this season. Pirates GM Ben Cherington said on the Pirates Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday there was a chance O'Hearn could play while the team is in Chicago for a pair of series starting with the White Sox on Tuesday and then Cubs on Friday. In his first season with the Pirates over 96 games, O'Hearn is hitting .270 with a .334 on-base percentage and .788 OPS with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 69 RBIs. Spencer Horwitz has been playing first base almost exclusively, but hit only .141 with one extra base hit in August and .181 in September with no extra base hits. Pirates start the day on Monday five games back of the final NL Wild Card spot with 18 games to play.