Perrotto: Yes, Oneil Cruz Can Be Frustrating but Potential Payoff is Huge (+)

Clint Hurdle used to often say when he managed the Pittsburgh Pirates that “men like to measure things.”

Fanciers of MLB’s Statcast love to measure Pirates rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz. They are awed by the exit velocity of his batted balls, the velocity of his throws across the infield and his sprint speed scores.

One might dub Cruz as Mr. Statcast.

Those measurables are impressive and show Cruz has the potential to be a premier player. However, what can’t be measured – at least not yet – is a player’s aptitude for the game of baseball.

That is an area where Cruz is lacking. He does not yet have a good feel for the game or the instincts necessary to thrive in the major leagues.