PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) One of the biggest parts of the 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates is the amount of success the young prospects have been having in the MLB.
As of late though, the young Bucs have not had the same shine and some have found their way back to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Oneil Cruz, however, has not yet experienced that fate.
Jack Suwinski hit a slump and was sent back to the minors, why not Cruz?
According to manager Derek Shelton, the two players have had different circumstances.
"We gave Jack a longer run, and we haven't given Oneil that long of a run," Shelton told the Cook and Joe Show. "We have to give these guys time at the major league level to adjust."
Despite a rookie leading 14 homeruns, Suwinski holds a batting average of .198.
Not just the length of the stint, but Shelton also said that Cruz has played a surprisingly good defensive game.
Shelton talked about how mentally strong Cruz can be, alluding to the last game in Colorado where Cruz came to the plate for the fifth time after four swinging strikeouts to produce an insurance run with a base hit.
"A lot of kids mentally don't handle it," Shelton said. "After four punch outs you don't see guys stay locked into the game."
Cruz's time in the MLB will be monitored by Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington.
As for now, despite barely hitting above the Mendoza line, Cruz will remain in the MLB.
