The Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves in need of another outfielder following a weekend sweep by the Philadelphia Phillies. Right fielder Ryan O'Hearn is heading to the injured list with a right quad muscle strain, which will force the 2025 NL All-Star to miss about a month, and infielder/outfielder Nick Yorke was optioned to Triple-A. 

With an off day on Monday before opening a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pirates will add outfielder Jhostynxon García to the roster, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Nicknamed "The Password," Garcia will join the Pirates in St. Louis on Tuesday and will likely serve as manager Don Kelly's right fielder until O'Hearn returns. 

Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as a free agent in 2019, the Pirates acquired Garcia in an offseason trade along with right-hander Jesus Travieso for right-hander Johan Oviedo and two minor leaguers, catcher Adonys Guzman and left-hander Tyler Samaniego. 

The 23-year-old has struggled in 19 games at Triple-A this season, with a .205 batting average and .613 OPS. Garcia does have some experience in the big leagues, having received a brief cup of coffee with Boston last season (5 games, he was 1-for-7).  

The Pirates are allowing Jhostynxon García to try to get his bat going

Despite the rough start to his season at Triple-A, Garcia should get a run at seeing some consistent playing time in the outfield. Kelly could likely utilize Garcia (right-handed) and outfielder Jake Mangum (left-handed) in a platoon situation. Mangum was activated off the injured list on Sunday (left hamstring strain) as O'Hearn went on it. 

Outfielder Billy Cook will also be in the mix to see time in the outfield, as he helped fill in for Mangum when he was out. Where Garcia doesn't help the Pirates is his inability to play first base. O'Hearn has played in 22 games at first. 

Despite spending time on the seven-day injured list (reinstated May 12), Garcia is batting .368 with a 1.327 OPS and six home runs in 11 games this month. Garcia has also mashed against left-handed pitching, batting .474 with a 1.545 OPS in 19 at-bats. 

With the ability to hit left-handed pitching and having some pop, hitting 18 home runs at Triple-A last year, Garcia could prove to be a power bat off the bench for the Pirates. 

The Pirates' outfield as a whole has mashed against left-handed pitching, with two of their lefties, Oneil Cruz and Mangum, hitting well against the same handedness. Cruz is hitting .288 with a .848 OPS in 59 at-bats and Mangum has hit .333 with a .742 OPS in 30 at-bats. 

Outfielder Bryan Reynolds, who is a switch-hitter, has hit .276 with a .813 OPS in 58 at-bats versus southpaws.