PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – You heard about it first during Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s appearance on the Cook and Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan. Once hoped to return in early August, Oneil Cruz is officially done for the season with a broken ankle. Pirates now admit how that injury changed their outlook.
While not wanting to make excuses during the bulk of the season, Shelton said for the first time what a year-changer it was to lose a player that had 34 extra base hits (17 home runs) in 87 games last year.
“It was a significant loss for us,” Shelton said. “I think it was a significant loss for a couple of reasons-the strides that we saw him make at the plate just in the short period of time in Spring Training. The ability to shorten up. The ability to swing at strikes.
When you lose a guy in the middle of the diamond that you are counting on, it’s a significant blow to our team.”
“It changed the whole complexion of our lineup right from nine games in.”
Shelton said Cruz continues to progress during his rehab as he remains around the team. He had 32 at bats over the nine games he played in 2023 with a double, home run, four RBI, eight strikeouts to seven walks with a .250 average. They are still working through what is next, but likely will play competitive baseball at some level in the off-season whether it’s Arizona Fall League, Dominican League or some type of organized play.
Shelton said once Cruz gets to Spring Training in February they will get him as many reps as he needs. When there are days where if he’s off for the Grapefruit League game, he might go to a back field at the Bradenton complex and play instead of an off-day.
The wish is with only a few reps this season, that it wasn’t completely lost. That at some level he’s able to take something from the experience that will help him in the future.
“The things I hope he got out of this year is number one, that he really misses playing the game,” Shelton said Tuesday. “When you get something that has been a part of you for the first 23 years of his life, you hope (he realizes) how precious it is.”
“The second thing I hope he got out of it was watching the game. You watch the game with a different lens when you are not on the field. I think one of the things I’ve really been pleased with especially of the last two weeks are the conversations he’s having with Mendy (Lopez, infield coach) in-game about things that are happening in the game.
That tells me that he’s paying attention, watching the game and learning which is really important.”
If the Pirates are going to take a next step, they must have Oneil Cruz.