Talking with … Padres newcomer Ryan O’Hearn

The Baltimore Orioles traded infielder/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn to the Padres at the deadline along with outfielder Ramón Laureano in exchange for a bevy of prospects. Now in his eighth major league season, O’Hearn made the All-Star Game for the first time in his career this year and has been a strong addition to the Padres since arriving in San Diego. Drafted by the Royals in the eighth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, O’Hearn made his debut in 2018 and finished the season with a .950 OPS. However, he struggled the next four years before being sent to Baltimore in January 2023 for cash. O’Hearn worked with hitting coaches to make mechanical changes, including a posture adjustment, and became a key piece in the Orioles’ lineup. He will be a free agent this offseason.

The Union-Tribune talked to O’Hearn about his transformation, a wake-up call from his wife and his hobbies. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

You were born in Florida, but did you grow up in Texas?

A: I was born in Florida. We moved to the Dallas area one month into my freshman year of high school.

Was that hard, moving as a teenager?

A: Yeah, it was very hard. But I think ultimately it was good for me, to kind of be put into a new situation where you’ve got to make friends and come out of your shell a little bit and all that.

Proved to be something you would have to do later in life with baseball as well.

A: A little foreshadowing, that’s for sure.

Are you Irish? 

A: Yes. Very. My dad is full Irish. My mom is half German, half Irish. … My middle name is Patrick. That’s pretty Irish. They definitely were going for that when they made my name.

How did you get your start in baseball, and what made you grow into the game and love the game?

A: My brother played growing up, so it probably started with watching him play in high school. And you know, I never thought I was going to make it this far. I just loved the game and enjoyed practicing. I enjoyed hitting in the cage and taking ground balls — just with no expectations, I would say. But as the years went on, I continued to go to the next level and realized I could play. And then here we are. I’m 32 and I still get to play baseball. What a blessing.

You played college ball at Sam Houston State . At that point, were you thinking, ‘Hey, I’m going to try to make it to the big leagues,’ or did you have a different career path in mind?

A: I just wanted to be a good college player. My dad was a salesman, a businessman, so I was studying business and I figured that’s probably what I was going to end up doing. And then after my first two years, I realized, ‘Wow, I might have a chance to get drafted, so I’m going to take a shot at that.’ And it’s been quite the journey. But no real expectations probably until, I don’t know, when I got to Double-A, Triple- A, I started realizing that there’s a possibility I could maybe play in the big leagues one day.

You were drafted by the Royals in the eighth round. Was that around where you expected to go?

A: It was more just an opportunity to keep playing. That’s really all it was. I knew I wasn’t going to be a first-round pick or anything like that. But I always believed in myself and thought that I could stack up against the competition every time I moved up to college (ball) and the minor leagues and things like that. Just grateful for the opportunity the Royals gave me and got a lot of love for the people over there still. I still keep in contact with them. I owe a lot to that organization and my time in Kansas City.

You spent four years in the minors before making your debut with the Royals in July 2018. You homered in your first game and had a strong start to your major league career, but then things got tougher for you in Kansas City. What stands out about that time and what did you learn from those struggles?

A: So much. I mean, 2018 was a really good year for me. I finished with a .950 OPS after a month in the big leagues, and going into 2019 I knew I was going to be on the team. I think that when you have success right away it can be deceiving, especially in this game. Playing well that first year, it kind of set me up for — and that’s my own fault — being a young player, you think you have this great understanding, and in this game, as soon as you think you know something, you don’t. It’s a very humbling game. … 2019  was a really hard year for me. The league had kind of adjusted to me and they saw some holes in my swing. It was just a grind, really, from 2019 and really for the next three years after that. I saw playing time taken away. Went from being a starter, an everyday player in 2019 for the most part, to a bench guy. That was really hard. You realize how much you love the game and how much you love being on the field.

I could talk all day about the lessons that I learned over those years, but probably the main two things that I take away was for one, it’s not going to go the way that you plan. It’s completely out of my hands. It’s God’s plan for our lives and if baseball wasn’t going to be my future, then I had to be OK with that. I think that freed me up. And also just to enjoy it and be grateful for it, because it can be taken away in an instant. There’s only so many players that get to play in the major leagues. If you have anything but a grateful spirit about you, then I don’t think you’re doing it the right way.

How hard was it to go to the field during that time?

A: Yeah, it was hard to go to the field. Because I didn’t want to sulk. I thought my teammates deserved a good teammate out of me. There were definitely hard days. I leaned a lot on my wife during that period and she was great. She kind of kept me levelheaded and focused on the big picture, which is really, ‘Hey, I get to continue to play baseball.’ So just being grateful for that and showing up with good energy every day. There’s so many people in that organization that helped me through that time, and I’m very grateful for them.

I read how your wife, Hannah, looked at you one day and said, ‘Ryan, you’re not fun to be around.’ Was that kind of a wake-up call? It sounds like it was such a tough time mentally. 

A: Yeah, that was kind of a sobering conversation we had where she just told me, ‘Hey, you’re not fun to be around anymore and you’re letting the game consume your whole life and your relationships, and taking a lot of struggles at the field, taking it home.’ It’s a different story now, but I definitely needed that conversation. I realized I don’t want to look back in 10 years on possibly my only time in the major leagues and be like, ‘I was unhappy the whole time.’ So that’s not exactly where the play turned around or the performance turned around, but that’s where kind of the mentality turned around of, ‘Hey, I’m going to enjoy this no matter what. I’m going to be the best teammate I can be. When I get a chance to go out there and have an at-bat or play defense, I’m just going to leave it out there. I’m going to be OK with the results.’

You get traded to the Orioles and your career does turn around. What set you on the right track with Baltimore? 

A: I think it was an accumulation of a lot of things. I will say, credit to one guy who stands out in my mind, who’s with the Orioles now: John Mabry. He was a hitting coach in Kansas City when I was on the bench. (I spent) a lot of time on the bench. I watched a lot of baseball and I learned a lot of lessons, and I learned a lot of stuff from him because he went through some of that in his career. So I think when I finally got the opportunity to play in the big leagues again in Baltimore, I was ready for it. I had learned a lot of new things mechanically with my swing. The Orioles’ hitting coaches at the time — and one of them is still there, Cody Asche — and Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte, they had a plan for me. They really helped me understand some things about my swing and what I was trying to do. And then when it was time, when I had the chance to play again, I felt like I had nothing to lose. Like, what’s the worst thing that could happen? I’ve already been through the wringer in this game. I’m going to go out there, I’m going to have fun, I’m going to leave it all out there. And whatever happens, I’m going to be okay with it.

Turns out, that’s a recipe for some success. I have nothing but really fond memories of my time in Baltimore.

There was a quote from Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino that you came back from the dead. That’s a powerful way to put it. Do you agree with that take? 

A: Yeah. In this game, it can be taken away from you. I’ve been optioned countless times. I’ve been designated (for assignment) twice. I’ve slipped through waivers on a minor league deal in Baltimore. So yeah, as someone who’s experienced it — I know players go through it all the time — but you can feel like you’ve been kind of left behind, and it’s really hard to get back. It takes consistent success at the Triple-A level and a great mindset and ultimately an opportunity, like an injury. I never hope anyone gets injured, but it takes something to get you a new opportunity. And then the pressure is on. You have to perform to get your next chance. So it’s been quite the journey in this game, to say the least.

When I think about my journey over the years, I can’t help but be grateful for so many coaches and people that have supported me through all of it. It’s amazing. They say in this game, how you treat people on your way up is how they’ll treat you on your way back down. So, just grateful for the struggles and the trials. I feel like it’s prepared me for a lot of things. I feel very lucky I still get to play baseball. I think all of those challenges that I went through have prepared me for anything in this game.

You’re battle-tested. And now you’re on the cusp of a potential postseason run with the Padres and perhaps an exciting free agency this offseason. Given everything you’ve been through, what does that mean to you?

A: I don’t know that I’ve had time to really process the whole transformation or the whole journey just yet. This year has been such a whirlwind. … But it means a lot. It’s been my life’s work. I’m proud of overcoming some struggles, and I’ve made some really good relationships with people that I’ll love forever and that I’m grateful for.

Do you think sometimes players just need a fresh start?

A: Yes. I do. I think a change of scenery can definitely help. New voices, all that. I think that’s a real thing. I think a lot of it depends on the player and the mentality they have. Are they willing to accept some criticism, some instruction? (Can they) change, continue to evolve in this game? For me, that’s the name of the game. Continue to evolve, continue to get better. No matter how old you are, how many years you put into it, you’re never going to master (everything). Crazy things can happen on this field and the more you experience, the more you’ll be prepared. I think that’s the name of the game, is being able to change and grow and evolve, and all the while treat people the right way. Because that’s what’s going to give you opportunities — how you’re viewed as a teammate and a member of the clubhouse.

What do you like to do away from the field?

A: I love to play golf. I’m not that good, but I’m not terrible. I like to play golf with the guys. I like the competitive nature of it. I like to be outside. That would be my No. 1 hobby for sure.

Have you played with any of your new teammates?

A: I played with (Gavin) Sheets, (Nick) Pivetta and Manny (Machado). It’s been fun. We’ve had a blast. We’ve played twice.

And who’s the best golfer? 

A: Sheets is the best golfer. Sheets will shoot par. He’ll shoot even par.

What is one thing you want to see or do in San Diego? 

A: My wife and I were talking yesterday. There’s an off day at the end of the season when I think we want to go to the zoo.