TODAY: Cruz’s promotion has been officially announced by the Pirates. Right-hander Tanner Anderson has been placed on the 10-day IL due to a right foot contusion.
OCTOBER 1: The Pirates are planning to promote shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz to make his major league debut, reports Héctor Gómez of Z101 (Twitter link). The 22-year-old checked in as the game’s #50 overall farmhand on Baseball America’s midseason update. Cruz is already on the 40-man roster.
Cruz signed with the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic over the 2015-16 international signing period. Los Angeles included Cruz, who was then in Low-A, as part of a package headed to Pittsburgh for Tony Watson at the 2017 trade deadline. The left-handed hitter has spent the past four years climbing the minor league ranks, moving fairly slowly but posting big numbers at every level.
In 2018, Cruz hit .286/.343/.488 while spending the entire season at Low-A. He split the 2019 campaign between High-A and Double-A and was added to the 40-man roster that offseason to keep him from selection in the Rule 5 draft. Last year’s canceled minor league season obviously cost Cruz the chance to play in games, although he was part of the Bucs’ alternate training site group.
As Cruz has aged, he’s continued to fill out one of the bigger frames in affiliated ball. The 22-year-old is now listed at 6’7″, 210 pounds, and he’ll soon become the tallest shortstop in major league history. That atypical profile has led to some concern among prospect evaluators he’d eventually have to move off the position, but he’s worked there exclusively in the minors this year and has continued to hold his own. In their midseason report, BA pegged Cruz as a capable defender, and evaluators credit him with one of the better arms in the minor leagues. There’s still some sentiment he could wind up moving into the outfield eventually, but it seems he’ll at least get an opportunity to first try and stick on the left side of the infield.
While there may be some questions about his long-term defensive home, there’s no debate concerning Cruz’s power potential. His exceptional size and athleticism leads to some of the game’s biggest power projection, with Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs grading his raw power as a future 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. BA, meanwhile, pegs his power potential at a 70 on the same scale.
Cruz’s size has led to some trepidation about his ability to consistently make contact. Longer-levered players can sometimes have trouble synchronizing their swing mechanics, and Cruz indeed had some alarming strikeout numbers early in his minor league career. As he’s climbed the ladder, he’s ironed out those issues significantly. Cruz has taken 302 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this season, hitting .310/.375/.594 with seventeen home runs and a 22.8% strikeout rate that’s right in line with this year’s major league average.
With Cruz performing at a high level on both sides of the ball, the Pirates will give him a two-game cameo to close out the season. He can still be optioned to the minors in one more season, and he’s only played in six career Triple-A games. It’s certainly possible he starts next season back in the upper minors, whether for developmental or service time reasons. (Barring a change to the current service time structure in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, the Pirates would only have to keep Cruz in the minors for a couple weeks to delay his path to free agency by an additional season). But whatever long-term plans the organization has, they’ll reward his consistently strong performance with his first big league call to close out this season, giving fans a glimpse at one of the most exciting young players in the organization in the process.
Not to sound “anti-player”, but why start the clock on this kid now?
i mean, they can just send him down next year
Ummm, ok. So in your scenario, send him back down next year so they started the clock for no reason. Haven’t you ever wondered why the Cubs kept Kris Bryant in the minors for 10 days to start the 2015 season and why he was so upset about it and filed lawsuits, etc?
so what, Cruz couldnt at any point over the next few years spend 12 days in the Minors?
You sound VERY anti-player. What, are you getting cut out of ownership’s money?
I’m just kidding, really, as I don’t care. But, I wonder if it has more to do with perception for players yet to commit to teams (future talent), and to avoid potential calamities (and bad PR) like the Cubs and Mariners faced for their Bryant/Kelenic situations.
Otherwise, the smarter [business] decision would be to keep him down IF it ultimately affects his timing. They may also hope it goes towards his consideration if they try to extend him in his pre-arb years – ya know, before they trade him.
Extremely anti player he sounds. Why agree with the player getting paid early when the owner who has screwed the organization for 10+ years still makes money?? This dudes a dope
…it’s two days
, i think i’m wrong. No need to be jerks. They can send him down next year. I thought when the clock started, in 6yrs they became free agents regardless, and sending them down later only affects arbitration pay, etc.
Yea, most fans make this mistake. Service time is about days on the MLB roster, not from a specific point on the calendar. All this does is force the pirates to keep him in the minors next spring for an extra series.
Twins got an extra year of service time for Buxton a few years ago by having him spend the last month “continuing his rehab” in AAA after he came of the IL.
Why is someone anti player that clearly understands how baseball works and has a perspective of a gm. If more people thought like gms on here instead of blissfully ignorant dope fans there wouldn’t be so many ridiculous posts about collusion.
Can state with extreme certainty that approximately 0% of posters on here has the perspective of a GM and if they did they would be laughed off the comments threads.
Video games aren’t reality, you literally do not gain that “skill” of “knowing what GM is like” by playing them.
Yeah it’s smarter to say ridiculous ignorant fan things like the A’s should trade sign Robbie Ray and Corey Seager next year.
Instead of thinking like a gm and living in reality. Trying to think of a creative way to be competitive while trading 2 of Olson, Chapman, maneea ad Bassit.
Cuz it brings fans it’s needed. The Bucs need this. If you were REALLY a fan, you’d get it. And stop agreeing with ownership. You obviously think about the between of ownership with ‘service time’ and ‘starting the clock’ over the better of getting talent on the field.
There isn’t a single person buying a ticket to go see Pirates games because Cruz is on the field besides his family. This narrative it’s needed is the worst ever.
Speak for yourself.
There is only tonight and tomorrow on the schedule. I love baseball will watch the Bucs on TV tonight. The Pirates will not suddenly sell any more tickets for tonight’s game as the already had tickets reduced and it is a Fireworks night and it is supposed to be raining and cold with the Steelers playing at 4 pm tomorrow. No one extra will suddenly change plans and run out to attend the game just because Cruz will be on the field tonight or tomorrow. It is a reward for a good season and to give him a tiny taste of what he should be setting his sights on for next season, if there is one.
I don’t really care for the move. I think it only sets up an expectation that he will be their starting SS next year. There doesn’t seem like there is much upside here.
I’ll speak for the people who live in reality.
iverbure7 hours ago
There isn’t a single person buying a ticket to go see Pirates games because Cruz is on the field besides his family.
====================================
I’ve never seen that work. Maybe if this was a #1 minor league pitcher.
Wander Franco’s 1st game 12,994
Kelenic 1st was 9,880
I doubt getting to see a #50 prospect is going to entice a lot of people to the park.
In Cruz’s case, it’s not about enticing fans to the ballpark. The young fella has been through quite an ordeal these past two years. It’s great that the Pirates are allowing him to end the season on a positive note by getting his first glimpse of big-league life. It’s good for hardcore Pirates fans as well. There’s nothing negative about it. By the way, he has tremendous upside as a player. To suggest he’s some kind of non-prospect is wrong.
I don’t see any particular downside. MLB history is filled with players getting a cup of coffee in September only to return to the minors for more seasoning. That actually was not uncommon until service time considerations became a thing. He crushed it with his first taste at the higher levels (AA and AAA) this year, and then went 3-9 with a HR for his brief MLB appearance. He’ll be back in AAA to start 2022, but a fast start could have him up for good a few weeks to a few months in. Maybe the new CBA will make it easier to call him back up more quickly if he’s ready.
Maybe to give suffering Pirates fans a positive glimpse of the future. Why not?
A reward and to give him his first taste of the majors. They still control the clock.
Bingo, we have a winner. Just like Roansy Contreras the front office is dangling a carrot in front of Cruz to let him see where he should end up sooner than later next year as both a reward for this year’s work and motivation heading into the offseason. Everyone knows the Pirates of all teams aren’t letting these guys reach free agency any sooner than necessary.
Because the current service time rules are likely to change during the CBA negotiations.
They’re also rewarding the guy for his incredible season and would only need to keep him down an extra 2 days next year if the rules don’t change.
This way they keep his confidence rolling into next year instead of being frustrated for not even getting a cup of coffee given his stellar season.
^this is probably the closest to the truth, to me. it’s only two days of service time so if the new CBA just keeps the same model as this one, you keep him down for 24 days instead of 22(or whatever the number winds up at.)
Or, a newer system replaces the current one and it doesn’t matter that you burned two days of service time. Give the kid a reward for a great season.
So Scott Boras doesn’t file a grievance.
Is he even a Boras client?
this happens often. It isn’t new… is it right? well that can be argued.
Oneil probably won’t be in the opening day roster until 2023
wow, super small sample size, but he’s killing it in AAA
Didn’t he faced allegations in the Dominican
Past dweller.
yeah
He was out past the Dominican Republic’s COVID curfew when the car he was driving struck a motorcycle in front of him. There were three people on the motorcycle, all of whom were killed. It was initially believed that Cruz was under the influence of alcohol. It was also reported that the motorcycle didn’t have lights of any kind.
Apparently, there was no evidence that alcohol was involved. I don’t know what happened regarding reports that the motorcycle had no lights. Anyhow, it was apparently ruled an accident and the case is over.
Not to make light of the situation, but if it was indeed an accident, I’m glad Cruz has come through it okay. A difficult ordeal for all involved, with his only wrongdoing being operating a vehicle after curfew (just as the driver of the motorcycle was doing). A terrible accident. Time to move on.
If anyone has any information, please add to what I’ve written and/or correct me.
Cruz lives with this forever… as a human I hope he makes peace.. god bless
One of my best friends in high school went through it our senior year in high school back in 1976. A camping trip accident during spring break where one of the guys in our little group was killed. Three guys in the car, a tragic accident. They called for me the morning of the trip, but I was still in my pajamas and had told them over and over I wasn’t going camping — ever. The end of our senior year couldn’t come soon enough after that. It was rough on all of us, especially the driver, who has never gotten over the emotional scars and years of lawsuits that followed.
Three people on one motorcycle driving wrong direction at night w no lights.
He killed someone last September with his car. He will be the first MLBer since Cesar Cedeno to have taken a life while active on a MLB roster within a year (more or less), although his was a LOT more accidental than Cedeno’s sketchy situation.
Good for the Bucs. For once doing it correctly. Thanks Cherington
All things considered, I would imagine Pirates fans are optimistic about how things are going.
I am happ and excited
There will be losses, but it should be fun watching the youngsters grow. With a little luck, the 2021 draft class might someday be viewed as a major turning point. In the meantime, amazing ballpark.
You’re happ? Are you in Chicago?
Ian did grow up in Pittsburgh….
You’re saying this on an article about the Pirates calling someone up who they acquired in a trade, which they win a lot
One last
Push for the playoffs! I like it
Too bad they one tonight. They are pushing themselves out of 3rd place for the draft.
Was using voice to text. Sorry about the one as opposed to won.
IT’S HAPPENING!
A 6 foot 7 inch shortstop?
Too bad he doesn’t have
Frank Howard power…..
.
Not yet anyways.
After seeing some of the homers that Cruz has hit, he looks like he has the power of just about any player…….
So this is a half joke/half real line of questioning. Does he get a start or does he pinch hit and stay in to finish a game? If he does get a start do they sit Newman or have Cruz play right field? I can’t imagine they would slide Newman to second for Cruz to play short.
Is this your first year as a baseball fan? If your team is out of the playoff hunt then its very common to play prospects over regulars during the last weekend, or hit players chasing milestones like 40 homers or 200 hits leadoff even if they hit cleanup all year. Why is this a pressing issue for you with literally 2 games left in your season? Literally no one cares about Kevin Newman.
I get all tat and I’m not worried about Newman. I’m just curious to see because Cole Tucker is a better defensive shortstop than Cruz and Newman still plays short everyday while Tucker moves around the field. If both Newman and Cruz play then Newman slides to second or Cruz plays outfield which he hasn’t done in pro ball yet though he has taken pregame reps in the outfield snagging flies. Either way it’s a bit intriguing to me and potentially telling about the front office’s plans with Cruz next season.
Granted 6’7″ is tall, but were people saying that Cal Ripken shouldn’t play SS because he was 6’4″ when he was coming up the ranks?
The same can be said for Corey Seagar, Carlos Correa, and Fernando Tatis Jr all being 6’4″.
Let him play the position until he proves that he can’t.
For whatever reason the majority of baseball fans online thinks Corey Seager is like 5’10” or something, its so weird.
Isn’t Kyle small?
Outside lookin’ in: You want the player to get a taste of what he’s heading for & working for so that he comes to spring training with a conquering attitude. Also that tiny boost of ML pay & benefits pats him on the wallet & says thanks. Also gives fans a reason to pay attention to these last games & gives them something to talk about & hope on for next spring.
The irony is the guy known for making the worst trade ever actually won most of his trades (Cruz for 2 months of Watson, for ex.) except for the one that almost certainly Nutting’s idea*.
*Huntingdon would have rather cut off his own leg than trade a prospect, let alone three. The Archer deal was almost certainly the ownership panicking after an attendance drop.
Imagine like, actually thinking CHRIS ARCHER is the key to attendance though? At no point was he ever elite or a massive fan fave, just the dumbest trade of recent times bar none. Shane Baz is going to be really good too.
The thing about Pirate fans is they want you to give up whatever you value most to prove you love them/want to win.
Nutting is always slagged (correctly) for not wanting to give up his money.
Huntingdon was always slagged for “overvaluing” his prospects and never wanting to trade them in a win now move.
Nutting panicked and rather than spend money, forced NH to ship a boatload of prospects for the cheapest “ace” starter they could. I don’t know that. But I know that.
Bought tickets for tonight last week hoping this would happen and made sure they were in right field. Actually surprised it did. Kids are super excited to get there early for BP now.
The first player to catch a body in the same calendar year as playing in MLB since Cesar Cedeno?
As for this long-time Pirates fan, having Cruz play at PNC these last couple games definitely makes me even more likely to watch the game. Also, I don’t buy any argument of risking Cruz injury in two “meaningless” games. #1, there is credible purpose to having him in the lineup this weekend and, #2, the kid could get injured rolling out of bed, sneezing, or anywhere not baseball related. So, kudos, Pirates, and good luck to Oneil; have fun!
“With Cruz performing at a high level on both sides of the ball,”
=======================================
I haven’t seen him, and sometimes players are better than their numbers, but he has 82 errors in 2,314 innings. That projects to 52 over a full season. I’m not sure that’s a ‘high level’.
His minor league numbers per 600 AB are a 165/56 K/W with 19 HRs. With only 21 AAA ABs,, it feels like they are a year too early with the promotion.
Bring Cruz up was an award for accomplishing goals the team set for him. He needs at least 100 at bats at AAA to get more experience not chasing slides away from LH pitching
How about that homer of Cruz’s? Effortless! On the other hand, there’s some work to be done facing lefty breaking balls. Looking forward to great things!
from his knee even that was pretty amazing. don’t see stuff like that often.
Guy is a beast. He’ll probably end up in right field given the depth at middle infield for the pirates with better defense but he probably could stay at short if needed.
There are no sure things but this guy has a good as shot as any at being an every day player maybe all star.