Austin Hays: Complete MLB Profile & Advanced Analytics
Austin Hays is an American professional baseball outfielder known for his right-handed bat, athleticism in the outfield, and platoon-friendly hitting profile. Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and debuting in MLB in 2017, Hays has played for the Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds through the 2025 season. As of late 2025, he’s a free agent looking for his next contract after posting a rebound season with the Reds.
Fangraphs Insights & Advanced Metrics
On FanGraphs, Hays’s metrics reveal a player with above-average production when healthy. In 2025, he accumulated a 105 wRC+, indicating he was 5% better than league average offensively, and contributed around 1.2 fWAR across 102+ games.
Offensive Profile
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Plate discipline: Hays walks at a moderate rate and strikes out at a typical rate for power-hitting outfielders.
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Contact quality: While not elite, his hard-hit and barrel rates track near league-average to slightly above on balls in play.
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Platoon strength: His performance against left-handed pitching stands out, posting a .319/.400/.549 slash line with a 155 wRC+ against southpaws in 2025, making him a valuable asset in mixed-lineup constructions.
Statcast Data & Batted-Ball Metrics
Statcast’s tracking on Baseball Savant shows Hays’s production through % metrics:
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Average exit velocity, xwOBA & xSLG: Hays’s Statcast power figures were consistent with his traditional stats, reflecting a solid batted-ball profile and quality of contact.
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Performance trends: Across 2023–2025, Hays’s overall slash line from MLB Statcast summaries is roughly .262/.313/.435 with a .748 OPS, illustrating consistent output over multiple seasons.
These advanced metrics signal reliability in expected weighted On-Base Average (xwOBA) and impact even when outcomes vary by defense or luck.
2025 & Career Splits
Splits provide deeper clarity on how Hays performs in different contexts:
Season 2025 (Reds):
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.266 batting average
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15 home runs
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64 RBIs
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.768 OPS over 103 games.
Home vs. Away:
While traditional splits vary by data source, Hays generally showed slightly better production on the road in recent seasons, a trend seen in his home/away OPS splits.
Platoon Splits:
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Vs left-handed pitchers: elite productivity with high wRC+ and OPS.
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Vs right-handed pitching: more modest numbers, reinforcing his role as a platoon or complementary hitter.
Injury History & Impact
Injuries have influenced Hays’s career trajectory:
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2024 setbacks: A series of ailments — including a left calf strain and a serious kidney infection — limited his games and performance.
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2025 issues: Placed on the 10-day injured list in March with a calf strain but returned and produced effectively during the season.
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Over his career, Hays has had multiple shorter stints on the IL, typically lower-grade injuries that impacted his availability.
Despite these challenges, his ability to rebound and maintain impact at the MLB level is noteworthy.
Contract History & Future Outlook
2025 Contract
Hays signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds that included incentives.
After the 2025 season, the Reds declined his 2026 mutual option, making him a free agent once again.
Free Agency Buzz
Several teams are reportedly showing interest in Hays for the 2026 season:
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New York Mets have discussed adding Hays, especially valuing his success against left-handed pitching.
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Other clubs (like the Cleveland Guardians) are mentioned as potential fits due to his platoon upside and manageable salary expectations.
His advanced stats, combined with experience in the outfield, make him a quality mid-tier free agent target.
Conclusion: Value & Versatility
Austin Hays represents a compelling blend of advanced analytics and traditional production:
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Strong platoon bat with league-above expectations against lefties.
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Statcast consistency in exit velocity and expected stats.
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Fangraphs value reflecting positive offensive contributions.
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Resilient career arc overcoming injuries to stay productive.
As he enters free agency, teams looking for cost-efficient and sabermetrically sound options in the outfield should consider Hays for 2026 and beyond.
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