O's bid a fond farewell to Hays

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- James McCann delivered some tough news to his 6-year-old twin sons, Christian and Kane, on Friday afternoon.

The Orioles had traded Austin Hays to the Phillies. That meant he would be leaving for Philadelphia, along with his sons -- 3-year-old Levi and 2-year-old Hayden.

“I told them that Haysie got traded and their immediate comment was, ‘Oh no, Levi and Hayden are going to be gone,’” McCann said.

“Something a lot of people don’t understand is those relationships that are built from a family standpoint. I mean, heck, we just spent the past two cities [Arlington and Miami] playing at the pool with his kids [and] my kids. All day long: Levi, Hayden, Christian, Kane, playing in the pool.”

The McCann boys won’t be the only ones who will miss Hays and his family in Baltimore. So will many O’s fans, who watched the 29-year-old outfielder develop from a 2016 third-round Draft pick to a key contributor after Mike Elias became general manager in November 2018.

Hays became a fixture in Baltimore’s lineup shortly into Elias’ tenure, which coincides with Brandon Hyde’s time as manager. Hays played 516 games for the O’s from 2020-24, emerging as a veteran leader in recent seasons.

But Hays’ role diminished this year, when he turned into a right-handed platoon bat in left field, getting less playing time than youngsters Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad. The Orioles -- in great need of pitching help ahead of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline -- decided to part with Hays to add right-hander Seranthony Domínguez to their bullpen.

Domínguez has electric stuff -- which he showcased while pitching a scoreless eighth inning Friday against San Diego -- and Baltimore is excited about adding him to its relief corps.

That didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to Hays.

“How he went about his business on a daily basis, I have so much respect for,” Hyde said. “Nobody played harder. Nobody played more hurt. He was incredible in the clubhouse, unbelievable in the community, the charity work. ...

“He’s a true pro. So to lose someone like that, that we’re all close to, it’s tough. He’s a close friend for a lot of guys in that clubhouse, and we definitely wish him well.”

A similar sentiment was expressed by several of Hays’ now-former teammates.

“He just taught me a whole lot -- a lot on defense and how to play this left field,” Cowser said. “He’s someone that we’re truly going to miss in this clubhouse. He was a really good leader, and I’m wishing him the best.”

Added infielder Jordan Westburg: “I think he embodied what we try to be about as an organization and as a team -- just gritty, determined, head down, push through whatever’s coming his way kind of ballplayer.”

There were plenty of memorable moments during Hays’ time with the Orioles.

He became the sixth Baltimore player to hit for the cycle on June 22, 2022, when he completed the feat in a rain-shortened six-inning win over the Nationals at Camden Yards.

He was named an All-Star in 2023 after a tremendous first half, compiling a .314/.355/.498 slash line with 22 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 78 games. He was a reserve for the AL team, but he started the Midsummer Classic in center field due to injuries to the Angels’ Mike Trout and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge.

Hyde’s favorite Hays memory was getting to tell him he’d be starting that All-Star Game.

“The first half he had last year, he really carried us,” Hyde said. “To be the one to call him that day, to let him know that he is starting the All-Star Game, that was a special moment.”

Although Hays will be missed, the Orioles understand the business side of the game. They’ll say farewell to their teammate, welcome new ones and continue to push toward a second consecutive AL East title and a deep run through the postseason.

“As a clubhouse, we have full trust in our front office, and what they ultimately decide to do is up to them,” Cowser said. “We’re just going to go out there and play our ball.”