Perrotto: Impressive Homer Aside, Oneil Cruz Shows Growth as Hitter (+)

CINCINNATI – Oneil Cruz hit an impressive home run on his first opening day in the major leagues.

That shouldn’t come as a real surprise. That’s what the Pittsburgh Pirates 24-year-old shortstop does.

Cruz has gone deep 18 times in his nascent 90-game career.

Yet while Cruz’s 425-foot homer off a 101.3-mph heater from Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene went viral on social media Thursday, it really wasn’t the most impressive thing he did.