Pirates
Dingers and Defense: Celebrating Oneil Cruz’s Long-Awaited 2022 Season Debut
Pirates fans had a Father’s Day to remember as the club announced they’d called up shortstop Oneil Cruz. The No. 22 prospect in baseball and a towering left-handed batter, Cruz has the strength to pepper the Allegheny with fly balls.
Perhaps Cruz’s most intriguing tool is his wingspan—even at 6-foot-7, he’s made a habit of golfing pitches just inches off the ground into home runs. His combination of effortless power and ability to turn around balls that should be unhittable makes him a difficult out. He’s striking out at a 22.7% clip, which is better than one might expect for a player of his height: it’s difficult to get balls past him.
The Pirates aren’t sold on his ability to play shortstop: he’s spent time at first base and the outfield as well with Indianapolis.
No matter where he is on the diamond, though, Cruz’s reach, deceptive speed and arm strength give him the opportunity to make plays that are impossible for other fielders.
Cruz figures to be a huge part of the rebuilding Pirates’ youth movement as he joins budding stars like Ke’Bryan Hayes and Roansy Contreras in Pittsburgh.
So far, so good. In his first game this season, Cruz went 2 for 5 with a double, four RBIs and broke various statcast records versus the Chicago Cubs.
3 innings into his 2022 debut, @Pirates' Oneil Cruz has registered:
🏴☠️The hardest throw by an infielder in @MLB this year (96.7 mph)
🏴☠️The hardest hit ball of the year by a Pirate (112.9)
🏴☠️The 3 fastest sprint speeds of the year by a Pirate (31.5, 30.7, 30.3) pic.twitter.com/nScTK5mD4A— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 21, 2022
Hardest-tracked throw by an infielder this season?
That would be Oneil Cruz, drilling one 96.7 mph for the @Pirates! pic.twitter.com/ESzXqE2MWi
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 21, 2022
Here are some dingers (and a bit of defense) to help fans celebrate Cruz’s successful first Major League appearance of 2022.
Oneil Cruz drives it to the deepest part of the park for a 3-run triple.
The @Pirates' No. 3 prospect also singled in the @indyindians' 9-run inning. pic.twitter.com/eVg9pwknSW
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 12, 2022
ONEIL CRUZ JUST HIT HIS FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE HOME RUN!!! pic.twitter.com/PIMMswXDYl
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) October 3, 2021
Oneil Cruz has played in six Triple-A games.
He has hit a home run in five of them. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Wrru0K7I3U
— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) October 1, 2021
Night, besties.
Enjoy this angle of Oneil Cruz’s home run. pic.twitter.com/LmLhrfqRnU
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 20, 2022
Cure for your Oneil Cruz home run withdrawal 💣 pic.twitter.com/gXMMbkiIim
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) November 12, 2021
“Check your watch. It’s Oneil time.”
No. 3 @Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz blasts a 113 mph home run for the @indyindians. pic.twitter.com/2qrfJI6QQv
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 8, 2022
How. Does. @OneilCruz4. Do. That. pic.twitter.com/T0LfFliZHd
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) June 10, 2022
@genericaccount Oneil Cruz flashes of good defense pic.twitter.com/03QsEhmyTK
— FanGraphs Prospects (@FG_Prospects) June 1, 2022
Oneil Cruz showcases the benefits of being a 6’7” shortstop with this jumping catch
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) April 27, 2022
