MLB 2022: J-Rod, Torkelson lead early Rookie of the Year contenders
On the eve of the 2022 season, Jake Mintz provides some new names fans will want to know in his list of ROY contenders.APRIL 7, 2022
ONEIL CRUZ #15 - SHORTSTOP - PITTSBURGH PIRATES
21 HR •
76 RBI •
.259 AVG
21 HR
76 RBI
.259 AVG
MLB 2022 predictions: World Series, division winners, awards
The FOX Sports MLB crew make all their predictions for the 2022 season, including World Series picks, MVP winners and more.APRIL 5, 2022
Ben Cherington defends Pirates' controversial decision to have Oneil Cruz start in minor leagues Ben Cherington met with the media on Monday and defended why the Pirates have Oneil Cruz in the minor leagues to start the season.
APRIL 5, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Bucs want Cruz to be in 'best possible position' when called up BRADENTON, Fla -- With this year’s abbreviated Spring Training, there were many decisions to be made in a short amount of time. Perhaps the...
APRIL 4, 2022 • MLB.COM
Joe Starkey: Even if the Pirates were big spenders, demoting Oneil Cruz would make sense Breaking news: Bob Nutting’s still cheap. The latest evidence is the ridiculous Bryan Reynolds dispute. The Pirates and Reynolds are headed...
MARCH 30, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Pirates Opening Day roster projection: Oneil Cruz is out. Who is in? Oneil Cruz's demotion to Triple A is good news for Kevin Newman, Michael Chavis and Anthony Alford. It's bad news for Pirates fans.
MARCH 30, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Pirates SS prospect Oneil Cruz to start season at Triple-A
Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz will start the season in the minorsMARCH 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
The future draws closer for still evolving Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to take a step forward in 2022 after three straight last-place finishes in the NL CentralMARCH 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pirates Option Top Prospect O'Neil Cruz to Triple-A The move is a disappointing one, as Cruz has been on fire during Spring Training, slashing .333, with two home runs and a 1.067 OPS across 1...
MARCH 29, 2022 • NESN.COM
Pirates option Oneil Cruz to Class AAA Indianapolis The Pirates on Tuesday optioned Oneil Cruz to Class AAA Indianapolis, meaning he won’t break camp with the big club.
MARCH 29, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Sent to Triple-A The Pirates optioned Cruz to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Impact Cruz made a brief, two-game MLB debut last October, and it's not hard to argue he's one of the Pirates' 26 best players already despite his inexperience, but the team will choose to prioritize delaying his free agency by a year. The new collective bargaining agreement allows players who finish in the top two in their league's Rookie of the Year voting to gain a full year of service regardless of how much time they spend on the major-league roster, so the Pirates are now heavily incentivized to keep him in the minors long enough to make sure that doesn't happen. In the Pirates' defense, Cruz has only played six Triple-A games, but it's not as if the team has compelling options to start over him. Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker should earn most of the at-bats at shortstop until Cruz returns.
MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines on Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Ke'Bryan Hayes and more Andy Haines' first task is to gain the Pirates players' trust. “You have to earn that. You have to fight for it, and then fight to keep it.”
MARCH 27, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Oneil Cruz makes debut in left field, flashes at the plate as his attention-grabbing spring rolls on BRADENTON, Fla. — Friday pretty much summed up Oneil Cruz’s situation in one day. The 6-foot-7 anomaly who usually plays shortstop got a cal...
MARCH 25, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Pirates spring training: Oneil Cruz shines again in tie with Tigers Oneil Cruz did something else ridiculous, and a couple fringe roster players homered during Wednesday’s 6-6 tie with the Tigers.
MARCH 23, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
How 2 swings show Oneil could be a star What can you tell from two swings of the bat? Maybe that Oneil Cruz is about to be a breakout slugger. The Pirates' 23-year-old, 6-foot-7 sh...
MARCH 23, 2022 • MLB.COM
Could still open at Triple-A Despite his hot start this spring, Cruz may still open the year at Triple-A, according to the Associated Press. "There's still development to be had there," manager Derek Shelton s...
Impact Cruz has already hit two impressive home runs in spring training and he has zero strikeouts or walks through two games. According to the report, both Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington have said they want Cruz to get experience playing the outfield, and it would make more sense for him to get those reps at Triple-A. For his part, Cruz is adamant that he's a shortstop. "I feel like I've demonstrated a lot," Cruz said, "but I guess I've just got to continue demonstrating." Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker are the other competitors for the starting spot at shortstop. While the team is pumping the brakes on the idea of Cruz breaking camp in the majors, he could probably force their hand if he continues to dominate at the plate.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Cruisin' Cruz: No. 3 prospect mashes 2nd HR of Spring Training PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- There was no official distance listed for Oneil Cruz’s second home run of Spring Training. There was no exit velocit...
MARCH 21, 2022 • MLB.COM
Pirates spring training: The Oneil Cruz show continues in win over Rays Oneil Cruz crushed another massive homer. He continued to be the story of the spring during another Pirates victory.
MARCH 21, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Towering Pirates shortstop Cruz aiming for big league spot
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is hoping to turn last season's cameo into a full-time gigMARCH 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pirates' Oneil Cruz and his eye-popping power will likely have to wait for MLB return Cruz believes he is ready for the big leagues: "I feel like I've demonstrated a lot." Pirates management has other ideas.
MARCH 21, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Akil Baddoo, Oneil Cruz and more hitters with a wide range of projected statistical outcomes for 2022 Gene McCaffrey looks at the MLB player projection systems to uncover hitters with a wide range of predicted outcomes for the 2022 campaign.
MARCH 20, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Cruz shows raw strength with HR, impresses at SS BRADENTON, Fla. -- The majority of people who step into a batter’s box need everything to be just about perfect to homer. Good timing. Good...
MARCH 19, 2022 • MLB.COM
Three positions up for grabs in Pirates' opening day lineup
Anthony Alford won the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting center fielder’s job in spring training last year then lost it less than a month into the seasonMARCH 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oneil Cruz treating magical Pirates debut as motivation to make big-league return in 2022 Oneil Cruz was a huge story — literally — late last season. That experience continues to motivate him to get back to the big leagues.
MARCH 16, 2022 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
