Breaking: Pirates to Promote SS Prospect Oneil Cruz

The Pirates plan to promote shortstop Oneil Cruz, one of the top prospects in the Pirates’ organization, according to a report by Hectór Gómez and confirmed by Pittsburgh Baseball Now. The 6-foot-7 shortstop is ranked as the Pirates’ third-best prospect and No. 52 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.

The Pittsburgh Pirates call up SS Oneil Cruz.

This season (AA / AAA):

BA .310, 17 HR, 47 RBIS, 16 2B, 5 3B, 19 SB, 62 R, 84 H, 161 TB, OBP .375, SLG .594, OPS .970.@z101digital @ZDeportes pic.twitter.com/ggRKy5i5Cu

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) October 2, 2021

Cruz spent the majority of the season with Double-A Altoona, where he appeared in 62 games. Cruz slashed .292/.346/.536 (136 wRC+) with 15 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs 18 stolen bases and 40 runs batted in. Cruz was recently promoted to Triple-A and has been on an absolute tear. In six games with Indianapolis, Cruz is slashing .524/.655/1.286 with five home runs and seven RBIs.

Cruz, who will turn 23 on Monday, joins Roansy Contreras among the club’s best prospects who are getting a shot in the Major Leagues in the final stretch of the regular season. Acquired from the Dodgers in the Tony Watson trade, Cruz is in his fifth year in the Pirates’ organization.

MLB Pipeline says that Cruz has plus power, is a plus runner and has a rocket of an arm. Cruz has taken a step forward this season at the plate, particularly in the power department, cementing himself as one of the game’s better prospects. Cruz’s handling of the shortstop position has been suspect this season, as he has committed a total of 16 errors in 59 games in the field.

The eventual debut of Cruz will give the Pirates and their fans another glimpse into the future and the hope that the new wave of prospects will lead the Pirates to the postseason once again.