ALTOONA, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Only four players on the Pitt basketball roster are taller than the Pirates best pure power bat. 6'7" shortstop Oneil Cruz recently hit a couple of monster home runs in AA, appears to be finding some consistency.
The major return from the Dodgers for trading reliever Tony Watson in 2017, Cruz hit 14 home runs with 59 RBI and a .286 average in A ball in 2018. Cruz hit over .300 in 35 games in High A in 2019 and promoted to 35 games with Altoona, hitting .269 with only one home run.
Following a slow start to this season, that power has resurfaced. Including hitting the hardest hit home run in the history of the organization on Friday, granted they've only been keeping those stats a short time.
"Working hard every single day and getting a routine to the practice," Cruz told 93.7 The Fan of his improvement. "Play hard and focused every single day in every single practice."
It's obvious muscle gain also has helped. Cruz was around 170 pounds when he came to the Pirates. He's now 210 with no fat. He resembles more of a NFL wide receiver than a lanky high school basketball player.
He hasn't lost his speed, approaching 10 stolen bases on the season. When he gets going it appears to take four steps to go from base to base as he glides around the bases like Terrell Pryor did on a football field.
Cruz also says he's taken a leadership role with this team
"I enjoy the game because I enjoy the energy and trust from my teammates," Cruz said. "If you get a lot of energy and you enjoy the game, your teammates will enjoy the game too. That's my mentality-enjoy the game, pass that on to the team for better play."
"I'm so pleased with the way he goes about his business," said Altoona manager Miguel Perez. "In those clutch situations where he knows he has to have a good at bat, he has to get a run in, he has to get on base. His level of focus is like 'hyper-focus'. He says he needs to get it and he does it. When he doesn't, you can see the intent there. I'm very happy with him."
While he's capable of highlight reel plays and has one of the strongest arms in the organization, Cruz is fielding barely above .900 over the first month-plus of the season. Would he get behind a move to a corner outfield spot? Arm strength is not an issue and his speed would allow him to track down balls in the gap.
"I love shortstop, but if I get the opportunity to play big leagues," Cruz said. "I can try outfield."
"I love shortstop. I want to play shortstop in the big leagues."
Cruz said he's not thinking about the majors right now, even though he's two steps away. He's had a taste, getting a couple of opportunities over the last few years at major league camp in Bradenton. This season 27 at bats in Spring Training games, batting .111.
The 22-year-old believes his time will come.
"If you work hard, it's easy to get," Cruz told 93.7 The Fan. "If you don't like to work to practice, it's difficult to get to that level."
"He gets a lot of attention and he handles it well," Perez said. "The thing with him is he wants to win. He wants to compete. He's been doing everything we ask for. He's having fun. He feels free on the field."
As Pirates' fans look for a better tomorrow, that future likely includes Oneil Cruz. No matter what position he ends up playing.
