Demilio: Oneil Cruz’s Value Becomes Even More Apparent in 2023 Absence (+)
PITTSBURGH — There are not many things on a baseball field that Oneil Cruz can’t do for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 24-year-old has a rocket for an arm from the shortstop position and can hit a ball harder and further than just about any player in the league. Oh year, he also has elite sprint speed to top it all off.
Whenever he’s on the field, the Pirates are in a much better position. He’s a potential game-changer every time he’s at the plate and on the basepaths.
Even as clear as it is to see his importance when he’s in a uniform, it’s even clearer to see his value while he’s been sidelined for essentially all of the 2023 season.
Cruz was arguably the key prospect in the Pirates’ rebuilding efforts and he was poised to take a big step forward this year in what would have been his first full season in the big leagues.
When he went down with a fractured left ankle on Apr. 9, an injury that will keep him out of action for the entire season, the Pirates’ hot start to the season flamed out fairly quickly after his injury.
“It was a significant loss for us,” manager Derek Shelton said. “I think it was a significant loss for a couple reasons. No. 1, the strides that we saw him make at the plate. Just in the short period of time, in spring training, the ability to shorten up, the ability to swing at strikes. The second thing is, when you lose a guy in the middle of the diamond that you’re counting on, it’s a significant blow to our team. And it changed the whole complexion of our lineup”
In Cruz’s absence, the Pirates had somewhat of a revolving door at shortstop with nobody doing enough to anchor the position.
Outside of Cruz, the Pirates have seen seven others get at least a start at short this season — Tucupita Marcano, Alika Williams, Rodolfo Castro, Liover Peguero, Chris Owings, Nick Gonzales and Ji Hwan Bae.
Of all the names listed, Peguero has had the most success, but he seems to profile better as a second baseman and the Pirates have played him their for the bulk of his time with Pittsburgh.
On the season, Pirates’ shortstops haven’t been able to have much of an impact at the plate.
As a group, the unit ranks 22nd in batting average (.234), 23rd in OPS (.659), and slugging percentage (.359) and have only hit 11 home runs, which ranks 24th.
In the upper levels of the Pirates’ current minor league system, there isn’t really a guy who can step up in Cruz’s place if needed again, either.
It’s abundantly clear that the Pirates need Cruz back on the field. They also need him to remain a capable shortstop, which could be a tall ask given the nature of his injury.
Still, the Pirates believe he can get back to the pre-injury of himself.
“It was a significant injury that he’s worked really hard to come back from,” general manager Ben Cherington said. “Confident he will fully come (back) from it. We’ll pour as much as we can into him this offseason and help him be ready for a really strong 2024.”
Once healthy, Cruz will again be counted on as a key piece for the Pirates next season.
Sure, everything about his game will infuse the Pirates with extra life, whether it’s his tape-measure home runs, his ability to wreak havoc on the bases or the times he showcases his arm on throws across the diamond.
Even with all of that, the stability Cruz is capable of offering as the main guy at shortstop will be just as valuable.
As the 2023 season comes to a close and sights shift towards next year, Cruz has high expectations for what 2024 could have in store for the Pirates.
“I’m the type of player that I don’t like to lose, and when I go home now, I think at home like, ‘How could I help my team in that situation?’ But I think we’re going to be a lot better next year,” he said through interpreter Stephen Morales. “We’re thinking about the playoffs and all that next year when I get back.”
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