The Pirates are finally pulling the trigger.
Oneil Cruz, the third-ranked prospect in Pittsburgh’s organization, will be called up from Indianapolis and join the Pirates Monday when the team begins a four-game series agains the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
“Now’s the time that we think he can help us,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said following Sunday’s walkoff win over the Giants. “We’ve talked about a lot of things developmentally. There’s still things that we’ll continue to work on, but we think now is the time that he’s going to help us.”
Outfielder Bligh Madris will also be called up to the majors for the first time in high career.
Cruz, a 23-year-old from from the Dominican Republic, is a shortstop who will also see time in the outfield. He is considered to be baseball’s 22nd best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
So far this season, he is hitting .232 in Indianapolis, but has surged over the last month after a sluggish start. Cruz hit .176 in April, but upped that to a .256 mark in May and .277 so far in June.
Overall, he has hit nine home runs and driven in 35 runs, while also drawing 30 walks.
Last October, Cruz was able to play in two games with the Pirates. He went 3-for-9, hit a home run and drove in three runs.
With his towering frame, questions on Cruz’s long term ability to hold down the shortstop position have arisen, and he has dabbled in the outfield in the minors.
“He’s predominantly going to play shortstop,” Shelton said. “We’ll see him probably in the outfield at some point. But initially, he’s going to play shortstop.”
Madris, a 26-year-old from Las Vegas, was a ninth-round pick by the Pirates in 2017. He has ht .308 for Indianapolis this season, homering five times, while racking up a .390 on-base percentage.
93.7 The Fan will have coverage from PNC Park Monday of Cruz’s debut, including the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show with Josh Rowntree at 6 p.m. and the ensuing broadcast of Monday’s game between the Pirates and Cubs.