PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The only one he told was the Pirate who also made a major change to his look years ago. As Oneil Cruz met with reporters Friday at PiratesFest, he revealed he cut his hair. That wasn’t the only change, he also said he went back to work and wants to be a leader by example in 2026.
Gone is the flowing hair, and the only person he told before he did it was Andrew McCutchen. He said those are lies about guys that cut their hair and they lose strength. In fact, he said he’s gained some muscle while still staying around 240 pounds while also focusing on agility.
He admitted after hitting .200 with a .298 on-base percentage and near career-low .378 slugging and career-low .676 OPS, this offseason was no time to relax.
“It was not my best season,” Cruz said. “I just went home, no time to relax. I went right back to work. Just to work on the stuff that I was having trouble with last year and work on my body again. No time to relax, just focus on what I need to do to get better.”
That focus has been on hitting lefties. Last year he hit .102 against them with 11 hits to 44 strikeouts and that’s what Cruz said he poured into back home in the Dominican Republic this year working with Vladimir Guerrero Senior’s brother, Wilton. The 27-year-old said he faced a lot of live pitching against lefties and understands he needs to get back to hitting lefties like he used to.
He is a strong believer that the Pirates adding Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe is going to allow the returning players to not only see more pitches, but better pitches. He believes that power will also help accent their run game which Cruz thinks is one of the better groups in the game. Cruz did lead the National League with 38 stolen bases, Jake Mangum had 27 with Tampa Bay and when Konnor Griffin joins, he had 65 in the minors in his first pro season.
Along with the work at the plate, he’s also worked on his outfield defense, specifically reacting to balls, his direction and angles. Cruz said he knows he needs to be better with his accuracy to the bases.
A player who has been inconsistent the last couple of seasons, Cruz even believes in 2026 he could be a positive role model to his teammates.
“At one point I think I can be the leader out there on the field,” Cruz said. “All I have to do is lead by example on the field and show them the right way. That’s how a leader becomes a leader. Just go out there and show that he can do it every day, day in and day out.”
He believes he can be an all-star this year, not just in a Home Run Derby, but as a position player. Cruz said he will get there by being his best every day.
This team needs Cruz to take a next step. They would likely never be able to afford a player of his potential, but can he reach it. He teased in 2022, will he ever be the player he has the potential to be?
So much of the Pirates turning a corner depends on that.