PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Is now the time for top hitting prospect Oneil Cruz? Kevin Newman out for three-to-five weeks with a groin injury, will Cruz get a call-up?
“Yeah, everybody in our system who’s on the roster at the upper levels will be given consideration,” said Pirates Manager Derek Shelton. “I don’t think right now if we’ve made a decision yet.”
Cruz hit his first home run in AAA on Sunday, a mammoth walk-off. The 23-year-old had some of the highest exit velocities in all of Spring Training this year, but is hitting .190 with Indianapolis. Cruz has three games where he had multiple hits and five extra base hits so far in the first month of the season.
“There’s been progress,” Shelton said. “And there’s still work to be done.
We’re focusing on what that work is.”
Diego Castillo
Castillo gets the first opportunity since news of the injury. Leading off on Wednesday night and batting .262 with a double, a homer and three RBI in 42 at bats in 2022.
“I feel comfortable playing shortstop,” Castillo said. “I’ve played there my whole life. If Kevin doesn’t feel well, I will be there until he can come back.”
The 24-year-old was a bit of a surprise making the Opening Day roster. Acquired in the Clay Holmes trade with the Yankees, Castillo hit .282 with AA Altoona last year with five home runs and 16 RBI in 29 games. He played only 18 games in AAA, batting .278 with three homers and three doubles.
Castillo said every day in the big leagues is an opportunity, whether it’s as a starter or a bench player. However, getting the first shot at shortstop.
“What I like about shortstop,” Castillo said. “I can do great plays there. I can do the Jeter play or whatever is coming. I always wanted to do that. I like it everywhere, but shortstop. It’s so good to be playing there.”
Cole Tucker
The Pirates first-round pick at shortstop in 2014, Tucker remains on the COVID-19 list. Tucker has played only one game at short this year, two at second base and eight in right field. The switch-hitter has a .171 average this year and .213 lifetime MLB average with a .263 OBP.
Ke’Bryan Hayes
Yes, he is the third baseman of the present and future. Shelton did not dismiss it.
“Ke’Bryan is an option to play there,” Shelton said. “Is Key an option to play every day there? I would say probably not.
Will he play there sometimes? Yeah, maybe.”
“I think I told you guys in spring training that I planned on playing him there. We didn’t have the opportunity because he missed the last five or six games. Donnie (Kelly, bench coach) and I talked it through. We thought last night was the perfect opportunity to get him over there with who the hitters were, what side of the field he was gonna be on, where we were gonna have to play on Wong.”
“Just to get his feet wet there because it’s different taking ground balls than it is actually playing it in a game. As an every day option, probably not. But we may see him there for a game or two.”
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