Pirates top prospect Oneil Cruz wants to get back to majors and stay there

Oneil Cruz attempted to explain how he turned an ankles-high pitch into a 413-foot home run Saturday, crediting everything from his work in the batting cage to keeping an eye on the ball to barreling it.

Then the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect flashed a smile and offered the only explanation that made any sense.

“I’m gonna be honest with you guys,” Cruz said in Spanish, translated by interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “I don’t even know how I hit that.”

HOW DID ONEIL CRUZ DO THAT?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/U0fA6h1ws6

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 19, 2022

Night, besties.

Enjoy this angle of Oneil Cruz’s home run. pic.twitter.com/LmLhrfqRnU

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 20, 2022

Oneil Cruz's first MLB homer is a Statcast-projected 408-foot drive to right-center field. Left the bat at 103.8 mph. pic.twitter.com/T6ih4TmzBs

— Jake Crouse (@JakeCrouseMLB) October 3, 2021

That his first home run in spring training was similar to his first in the major leagues last October is proof of how Cruz continues to defy logic and physics, as well as all expectations for a 6-foot-7 shortstop.

Cruz clasped his hands and extended his arms, using an imaginary swing to show how his bat covers a huge hot zone and can connect with almost any pitch and why nothing within reach is safe.

“I believe that’s where these long arms come into play,” Cruz said, “being able to protect the zone and take care of any area in the zone and making pitchers uncomfortable wherever they throw the ball.”

Cruz proved his prodigious power when his first major-league hit was recorded at an exit velocity of 118.2 mph — the hardest-hit ball by a Pirates player in the Statcast era — and has displayed the quick-twitch athleticism, powerful arm and range that allows him to play his position. Yet Cruz is confounded by why he remains a long shot, at best, to crack the Opening Day lineup this spring.

“I feel like I’ve demonstrated a lot,” Cruz said, “but I guess I’ve just got to continue demonstrating.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Sunday “there’s still development to be had” with Cruz, noting that the front office wants to see how he fares in the outfield. That’s news to Cruz, who lowered his left hand to show that he wants to continue wearing an infielder’s mitt.

“I’m gonna stay right there,” Cruz said, slapping his hand. “At shortstop.”

The greater concern might be getting Cruz more playing time above Single-A. He spent the 2020 season at the alternate training site, then played 63 games at Double-A Altoona, missing a month with a forearm strain. Cruz slashed .292/.346/.536 with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and 40 RBIs for the Curve before going 11 for 21 (.524) with five homers in six games at Triple-A Indianapolis after a mid-September promotion.

Shelton called Cruz’s call-up to the Pirates in October a “reward,” stressing the importance of giving him a taste of the major leagues and the hunger to return for good.

“Oneil is gonna have an impact on our club this year at some point,” Shelton said. “When that is, I don’t think any of us know. But the fact that he’s gonna play multiple positions, he’s continuing to learn to swing the bat, and there is development there. His confidence in that, I love that. I love that he feels that way personally, but I think there are areas of growth in the full game and development that we’re going to continue to talk about and I think are going to continue to expand.”

Baseball America considers Cruz the top prospect, best power hitter and best infield arm in the Pirates minor league system, ranking him the No. 14 overall prospect in baseball. Questions remain about whether he can stay at shortstop at his size or if he will ultimately switch positions, but Shelton values versatility and doesn’t see his size as a stigma at short.

“The one thing with Oneil is there are very few guys that size who have done it or not done it,” Shelton said, “so it’s hard to say until you see the individual athlete.”

The Pirates have an opening in right field, where Cruz would inevitably draw comparisons to another tall, rangy power prospect from the Dominican Republic, Gregory Polanco. With similar boom-or-bust potential, the Pirates plan to be careful with Cruz’s development. There is no reason to rush him as they aren’t expected to contend this year after coming off a 101-loss season.

“Oneil Cruz is a player who has the potential to be a star,” Baseball America editor in chief JJ Cooper said. “There are not many players in baseball who have his tool set and skill set. You have a guy who could end up being the tallest shortstop of all time, has massive power, runs better than anybody that size has ever run and has a strong arm. He’s also a guy who’s going to have a big strike zone, who’s going to probably have hot streaks and cold streaks.

“The major league staff being able to help him the reach the utmost level of his potential that he can is going to be very crucial to what these Pirates do over the next four to five years.”

Convincing Cruz to be patient might be as difficult as making him realize that a move to the outfield might be in his best long-term interest. Although Cruz has stated that his preference is to stay at short, he’s also made it clear that he wants to make it to the majors this season.

“That’s the goal, that’s the mindset — not only to reach the big leagues, but stay in the big leagues,” Cruz said. “So my mind set right now is working double time.”