Oneil Cruz

{{Infobox MLB player

|name = Oneil Cruz

|image = Oneil Cruz at bat (51509890653) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Cruz with the Indianapolis Indians in 2021

|team = Pittsburgh Pirates

|number = 15

|position = Center fielder / Shortstop

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|4}}

|birth_place = Nizao, Dominican Republic

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = October 2

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 17, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .244

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 53

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 167

| stat4label = Stolen bases

| stat4value = 60

|teams =

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2021}}–present)

}}

Oneil Cruz (born October 4, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball center fielder and shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Career

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

Cruz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2015 as an international free agent for a $950,000 signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2015/7/2/8888717/dodgers-international-signing-period-starling-heredia|title=Dodgers sign 9 international prospects on Day 1|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=July 2, 2015|website=True Blue LA}}

Cruz made his professional debut in 2016 with DSL Dodgers 1, batting .294 with 23 runs batted in (RBI) in 55 games. He began the 2017 season with the Great Lakes Loons.

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On July 31, 2017, the Dodgers traded Cruz and Angel German to the Pirates in exchange for Tony Watson.{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2017/7/31/16071716/dodgers-acquire-tony-watson-pittsburgh-for-oneil-cruz-angel-german|title=Dodgers acquire left-handed reliever Tony Watson from Pittsburgh for two minor leaguers|work=SB Nation|first=Craig|last=Minami|date=July 31, 2017|access-date=July 31, 2017}} He was then assigned to the West Virginia Power. In 105 games between the two clubs, he slashed .237/.297/.350 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI.

In 2018, he played for the West Virginia Power, batting .286 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI in 103 games, earning South Atlantic League All-Star honors.{{cite web|last=Kahn |first=David |url=https://www.milb.com/west-virginia-power/news/cruz-and-mitchell-tabbed-as-sal-annual-all-stars/c-292278440 |title=Cruz and Mitchell Tabbed as SAL Annual All Stars | Power |publisher=Milb.com |date=August 28, 2018 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}

Cruz began 2019 at High–A level with the Bradenton Marauders, before suffering a right foot fracture on April 27.{{Cite web|url=https://www.piratesprospects.com/2019/04/oneil-cruz-placed-on-injured-list-with-a-right-foot-fracture.html|title=Oneil Cruz Placed on Injured List with a Right Foot Fracture - Pirates Prospects|first=John|last=Dreker|date=April 28, 2019}} After missing two months due to the fractured foot,{{cite web|author=RotoWire Staff|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-oneil-cruz-suffers-serious-injury/ |title=Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Suffers serious injury |date=April 29, 2019 |publisher=CBSSports.com |access-date=December 11, 2020}} Cruz was assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates on June 24.{{Cite web|url=https://www.piratesprospects.com/2019/06/oneil-cruz-set-to-return-to-action.html|title=Oneil Cruz Set to Return to Action - Pirates Prospects|first=John|last=Dreker|date=June 24, 2019}} On July 28, Cruz was promoted to the Double-A Altoona Curve.{{Cite web|url=https://piratesprospects.com/2019/07/pirates-promote-oneil-cruz-to-altoona.html|title=Pirates Promote Oneil Cruz to Altoona - Pirates Prospects|first=John|last=Dreker|date=July 28, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/pittsburgh-pirates-promote-oneil-cruz-to-double-a-altoona-curve/c-309553010|title=Pirates promote Cruz to the Double-A Altoona|work=MiLB.com|last=Dykstra|first=Sam|date=July 30, 2019|access-date=August 21, 2019}} He hit .298 in 73 games for the 2019 season across the three teams.

On November 20, 2019, the Pirates added Cruz to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/oneil-cruz-ke-bryan-hayes-added-to-40-man|title=Bucs add top prospects Hayes, Cruz to 40-man|website=MLB.com|first=Adam|last=Berry|date=November 20, 2019|access-date=November 22, 2019}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled|website=MLB.com}} Cruz split the 2021 minor league season between Altoona and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, hitting a combined .310/.375/.594 with 17 home runs, 47 RBI, and 19 stolen bases.{{Cite web|last=Mackey|first=Jason|date=October 1, 2021|title=Sources: Pirates expected to promote Oneil Cruz for Saturday's game|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2021/10/01/Oneil-Cruz-production-promotion-Indianapolis-shortstop-prospect-power-tearing-up-Class-AAA/stories/202110010140|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}

On October 2, 2021, Cruz was promoted to the active roster for the first time to make his MLB debut.{{Cite web|last=Gorman|first=Kevin|date=October 2, 2021|title=Pirates to promote top prospect Oneil Cruz, giving fans 1st glimpse of 6-foot-7 shortstop|url=https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-to-promote-top-prospect-oneil-cruz-giving-fans-1st-glimpse-of-6-foot-7-shortstop/|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review}}{{Cite web|last=Crouse|first=Jake|date=October 2, 2021|title=Bucs call up No. 3 prospect Oneil Cruz|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pirates-call-up-prospect-oneil-cruz|access-date=October 2, 2021|website=MLB.com}} He appeared in two Major League games in the 2021 season and hit his first career home run on October 3 in Pittsburgh.{{cite web |title=Oneil Cruz 2021 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=cruzon01&t=b&year=2021 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=January 3, 2022 |language=en}}

Cruz did not make the team out of spring training in 2022 and was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the year.{{cite web | last=Gorman | first=Kevin | title=Pirates option top prospect Oneil Cruz to Triple-A Indianapolis in latest round of spring cuts | website=TribLIVE.com | date=March 29, 2022 | url=https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-option-top-prospect-oneil-cruz-to-triple-a-indianapolis-in-latest-round-of-spring-cuts/ | access-date=February 15, 2025}}{{cite web | last=Mackey | first=Jason | title=Analysis: Pirates' decision to keep Oneil Cruz in minors frustrating for fans, difficult to untangle | website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=March 29, 2022 | url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2022/03/29/pirates-oneil-cruz-class-aaa-indianapolis-shortstop-home-run-spring-development/stories/202203290115 | access-date=February 15, 2025}} He was recalled to make his season debut on June 20 against the Chicago Cubs, where he collected two hits, two runs, and four RBIs.{{cite web | last=Santos | first=Justice delos | title=Oneil Cruz sparks win in 2022 Pirates debut | website=MLB.com | date=June 21, 2022 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/oneil-cruz-sparks-win-in-2022-pirates-debut | access-date=February 15, 2025}} On August 24, 2022, Cruz hit the then hardest-hit ball since the advent of Statcast against Atlanta Braves pitcher Kyle Wright. The ball was recorded at {{convert|122.4|mph}}.{{Cite web |last=Cerami |first=Michael |date=August 24, 2022 |title=WOW! Oneil Cruz Just Set a New MLB Exit Velocity Record! |url=https://www.bleachernation.com/baseballisfun/2022/08/24/wow-oneil-cruz-just-set-a-new-mlb-exit-velocity-record/ |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=Bleacher Nation |language=en}}

On April 10, 2023, Cruz fractured his left fibula while sliding into home plate, which was blocked by White Sox catcher Seby Zavala while Cruz was attempting to score from third base on a ground ball. He was expected to miss four months,{{cite news |last1=delos Santos |first1=Justice |title=Oneil out 4 months after surgery on broken ankle |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/oneil-cruz-undergoes-surgery-on-fractured-ankle |work=MLB.com |date=April 12, 2023 |language=en}} but after multiple setbacks, he was ruled out for the entire season.{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Ruled out for 2023 return |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-oneil-cruz-ruled-out-for-2023-return/ |access-date=September 12, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com}}

On August 26, 2024, manager Derek Shelton announced that Cruz would be moving to center field for the foreseeable future.{{Cite news |date=August 26, 2024 |title=Pirates move 6-foot-7 shortstop Oneil Cruz to center field |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41006110/pirates-move-67-shortstop-oneil-cruz-center-field |access-date=August 27, 2024 |work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}

In 2024, Cruz batted .259/.324/.449 with 21 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases, and had the highest maximum exit velocity in MLB, at 121.5 mph.[https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=al&lg=nl&qual=y&type=24&season=2024&month=0&season1=2024&ind=0&pageitems=2000000000&sortcol=5&sortdir=default&pagenum=1 "2024 Major League Leaders,"] Fangraphs.

Cruz hit his first career grand slam on April 16, 2025 against the Washington Nationals in a 6-1 victory.{{Cite news |last1=Stumpf|first1=Alex |title=Falter, Cruz, Davis contribute to wacky Pirates win |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bailey-falter-oneil-cruz-henry-davis-contribute-to-pirates-win |work=MLB.com |date=April 16, 2025 |language=en}}

On May 25, 2025, Cruz hit the hardest-hit ball in the Statcast Era, at {{convert|122.9|mph}}, beating the previous record, owned by himself, by {{convert|0.5|mph}}. He did this against Logan Henderson of the Milwaukee Brewers, reaching {{convert|432|ft}} for a home run.{{Cite web |date=May 25, 2025 |title=Cruz annihilates 122.9 mph HR, hardest-hit ball tracked by Statcast|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/oneil-cruz-hits-122-9-mph-home-run|access-date=May 25, 2025 |website=MLB |language=en}}

Personal life

Cruz is the son of retired minor leaguer Rafael Cruz. The elder Cruz named his son after his favorite player, former New York Yankees outfielder Paul O'Neill.{{cite web | last=Mackey | first=Jason | title=Off The Bat: Oneil Cruz honors namesake | website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=July 1, 2022 | url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2022/07/01/off-the-bat-oneil-cruz-pittsburgh-pirates-paul-o-neill-new-york-yankees-major-league-baseball/stories/202207020007 | access-date=February 15, 2025}}

On September 22, 2020, Cruz was involved in a deadly vehicle crash in the Dominican Republic in which three people were killed. The accident occurred when his Jeep collided with a motorcycle carrying the three deceased that was traveling with no lights in the same direction that Cruz was traveling. Cruz survived the fatal accident without serious injury.{{cite web|first=Steve |last=Adams |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/pirates-prospect-oneil-traffic-accident-dominican-republic.html |title=Latest On ONeil Cruz |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=September 25, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}

Cruz is unusually tall for a shortstop. He is listed as {{convert|6|ft|7|in}} and {{convert|215|lbs}}. The only other major league player to make an appearance at shortstop as tall was {{convert|6|ft|7|in|adj=on}} Joel Guzmán, who played nine innings for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007. There have been four {{convert|6|ft|5|in|adj=on}} major leaguers who started some games at shortstop — Archi Cianfrocco, Elly De La Cruz, Troy Glaus, and Michael Morse.