ONEIL CRUZ NEWS

Pirates Pipeline: Tyler Samaniego had to sweat out his 2021 draft day but has become a quick riser DENVER — Analyzing the Pirates’ 2021 MLB draft class immediately after they were selected, there were some relative certainties. Catcher Hen...

JULY 15, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Pirates' O'Neil Cruz With A 98-MPH Rocket To First Base For those unaware, Pirates rookie O'Neil Cruz is one of the game's most talented players, outside of Shohei Ohtani. The 6-foot-7 shortstop m...

JULY 14, 2022 • OUTKICK.COM

Anderson's two-run triple in 11th lifts Marlins past Pirates

Brian Anderson atoned for a costly error with a two-run triple in the 11th inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 Thursday afternoon

JULY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oneil Cruz knocks out Miguel Rojas' tooth on slide, Marlins infielder leaves game vs. Pirates Rojas had his tooth knocked out in the Marlins-Pirates game, immediately exiting the game following his injury.

JULY 14, 2022 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Cruz's 97.8 mph dart is Statcast's fastest infield assist MIAMI -- Statcast is no stranger to Oneil Cruz’s arm. After all, the Pirates shortstop has routinely made some jaw-dropping fast throws this...

JULY 14, 2022 • MLB.COM

Tallies third steal Cruz went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Wednesday against the Marlins.

Impact Cruz did all of his damage in the fifth inning when he led off with a walk, stole second base and came around to score on a single by Ben Gamel. Cruz has had some growing pains in his first substantial stint in the majors, though he now has three stolen bases to go along with four home runs in 21 games. However, he's also hitting just .210 for the season, in large part due to a 34.9 percent strikeout rate across 86 plate appearances.

JULY 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins score 3 in 10th to rally past Pirates 5-4

Jesús Aguilar hit a tying single and scored the winning run on a wild pitch as the Miami Marlins rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pira...

JULY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cruz, Marisnick help streaking Pirates beat Marlins 3-2

Rookie Oneil Cruz hit a tiebreaking RBI triple and Jake Marisnick homered for the second straight game, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 3-2

JULY 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oneil Cruz has come out of the gates a better defensive shortstop than many expected MIAMI — For the last couple of years now, any time he was asked, Oneil Cruz swore he could be a shortstop. Some, including the Pirates, saw...

JULY 12, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Takes seat Monday Cruz isn't starting Monday's game against the Marlins, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Cruz started in the last four games and went 4-for-15 with a homer, a double, three runs, two RBI and a stolen base. Kevin Newman will shift to shortstop while Josh VanMeter starts at second base Monday.

JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs fourth homer Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Sunday against the Brewers.

Impact Cruz took Trevor Gott yard in the sixth inning to record his fourth home run of the season. He has shown the expected pop in his bat since being promoted June 20, as nine of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases. On the other hand, Cruz has a 34.2 percent strikeout rate which has deflated to his batting average to .213 across 79 plate appearances.

JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates hit 4 homers to beat Brewers 8-6, win series

Touted rookie Oneil Cruz hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and Daniel Vogelbach added a three-run shot in the ninth to power the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-6 victory over...

JULY 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gamel HR highlights Pirates' 4-3 comeback win over Brewers

Ben Gamel hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3

JULY 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swipes second bag Cruz went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Reds.

Impact After sitting out the afternoon game, Cruz returned for Game 2 and notched his second steal of the campaign. The strikeouts are piling up at an alarming rate (22 strikeouts now in 17 MLB games this season), and Cruz will need to make more consistent contact in the years to come to get the most out of his immense skills.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

On bench for matinee Cruz isn't starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Reds.

Impact Cruz will get a breather after he hit .156 with three homers, a double, six RBI and four runs over his last nine games. Diego Castillo is starting at shortstop and batting fifth during Thursday's matinee.

JULY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Want to get away? ... Not on Cruz's watch PITTSBURGH -- Oneil Cruz has already had his fair share of highlights since making his season debut. On Sunday, he added another, albeit not...

JULY 3, 2022 • MLB.COM

Tallies third homer Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday against the Brewers.

Impact Cruz took Aaron Ashby yard in the fourth inning to tally his third homer of the season. He's striking out at a 32.7 percent clip but has still managed 12 RBI and seven runs scored across 13 games since being recalled. Cruz has also flashed his power regularly, with seven of his 11 hits going for extra bases.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cruz gets 12th RBI in 13 games, Bucs top Brewers 7-4

Oneil Cruz collected his 12th RBI in 13 games this season to help Pittsburgh Pirates bounce back from a blowout loss with a 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers

JULY 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goes yard Thursday Cruz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Brewers.

Impact Cruz took Adrian Houser yard in the second inning to record his second home run of the season. Unsurprisingly, his power has translated quickly to the big-league level as five of Cruz's nine hits have gone for extra bases. However, he has also struck out at a 31.8 percent clip, suppressing his batting average to a mark of .214 across 44 plate appearances.

JULY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Off The Bat: Oneil Cruz honors namesake — a Yankees legend — with his passion and humility Oneil Cruz has been getting a lot of attention, but he’s not the type to revel in it. It’s part of what makes him special.

JULY 1, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Backup catcher Perez's 3 HRs help Pirates beat Brewers 8-7

Backup catcher Michael Perez had three home runs, rookies Oneil Cruz and Jack Suwinski hit back-to-back shots and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-7

JULY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brewers' Houser leaves start against Pirates in third inning

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Adrian Houser left a game against Pittsburgh with right elbow tightness in the third inning

JULY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slugs second career homer Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Nationals.

Impact Cruz occupied the leadoff spot for the Pirates and smacked his first homer of 2022 in the fifth inning against Erick Fedde. He has delivered production in line with his promising tools across eight games in Pittsburgh by racking up four extra-base hits, driving in eight, scoring five runs and swiping a base.

JUNE 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Oneil Cruz's homer brings a scare for a group of Nationals fans as Pirates lose again WASHINGTON — Richard Pedersen was enjoying a beautiful summer night at the ballpark and flipping through his phone Monday when he heard the...

JUNE 28, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Franco's 2-run homer carries Nationals past Pirates 3-2

Maikel Franco hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 in the opener of a three-game series

JUNE 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS