Oneil Cruz Injury News & Updates

Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Monday that Cruz (ankle) has resumed participating in instructional games in the Dominican Republic this offseason, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz hasn't yet taken part in any official Dominican Winter League games and may not before the 50-game regular season ends in late December, but the fact that he's taking live at-bats again as well as playing the field suggests that he's made a full recovery from the fractured left ankle he suffered April 9. Assuming the 25-year-old avoids any setbacks in his offseason program while he continues to train in the Dominican Republic, he should report to spring training with no restrictions. Though he essentially lost a season of development at the big-league level while recovering from ankle surgery, Cruz has youth in his favor as he looks to bounce back from the major injury. His impressive bat speed and sprint speed has been matched by few players during his time in the majors and should translate to some solid power and stolen-base numbers in 2024, though his lengthy absence didn't do anything to quell the concerns about his plate discipline that existed even before he fractured his ankle.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that he expects Cruz (ankle) to be fully healthy by the start of spring training, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz fractured his left ankle in the ninth game of the 2023 regular season and was unable to return before the end of the year after encountering multiple minor setbacks. He's in a good place now, though, and could even play some winter ball in the Dominican Republic to make up for lost time. "All of the updates we've gotten over the last couple weeks have been encouraging," Cherington said.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Tuesday that Cruz (ankle) will not return this season, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Cruz has run into a couple of minor setbacks in his recovery from early-April surgery to repair a fractured left fibula and will now shift his focus toward being 100 percent healthy for the beginning of the 2024 campaign. The dynamic 24-year-old shortstop went as a top-80 pick in most fantasy drafts this spring but wound up appearing in only nine games for Pittsburgh. He holds a .751 OPS with 19 home runs and 13 stolen bases through 98 career major-league games.

Cruz (ankle) is expected to restart his running progression this week, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz was shut down Aug. 23 due to soreness in his surgically-repaired left ankle, but he's feeling better now and still has an outside shot of returning to the Pirates' active major-league roster before the conclusion of the 2023 season. The dynamic 24-year-old shortstop has been sidelined since April 9.

Cruz has shut down his running progression due to soreness in his surgically repaired left foot, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Cruz began a running program a couple weeks ago, but his ankle has not responded as hoped and his rehab has "plateaued," according to Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. As for whether the talented young shortstop could still return before the end of the season, Tomczyk said, "It's tough to tell right now, but we are running out of days." Certainly, it's not a positive development for Cruz, and with no reason to push him to return this season, it's possible the Pirates may now slow roll Cruz as they prepare him to be ready for next season.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Thursday that Cruz (ankle) has begun a formal running program, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz has been throwing and taking light fielding practice for the last couple of weeks and has now been given clearance to ramp up the intensity of his workouts. If his surgically-repaired ankle responds well to the running progression, he could feasibly head out on a minor-league rehab assignment within the next couple of weeks and return to the Pirates just before the end of August. The 24-year-old shortstop fractured his left fibula while sliding into home plate back on April 9.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (ankle) could begin a rehab assignment later this month, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Tomczyk has been unwilling to put an official timeline on Cruz's return while the young shortstop works back from surgery to address a fractured left ankle he sustained April 9, but the organization remains confident the 24-year-old will return to the big club at some point in 2023. According to Jerry DiPaola of TribLive.com, Tomczyk said last week that Cruz has been able to move on the field laterally to corral groundballs and was also playing catch out to 150 feet. Cruz still has a few hurdles to clear -- notably, taking live batting practice, running the bases and taking part in full fielding drills -- before beginning a rehab assignment, but he could realistically be ready to report to an affiliate at some point in the second half of August.

Cruz (fibula) played catch Thursday at a distance of 75 feet, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz has also been doing some other range-of-motion exercises as he begins to ramp up his rehabilitation from early-April surgery to repair a fibula fracture. The current hope is that he could begin playing in live games again sometime in August. The 24-year-old shortstop has the skillset to be a league-winning contributor in fantasy over the stretch run.

Cruz (fibula) is expected to remove his walking boot next week, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

When that happens, he'll be cleared for strength and range-of-motion exercises for his surgically-repaired left leg. Cruz is expected to be on the shelf until sometime in August.

The Pirates revealed Wednesday that they expect Cruz (fibula) to be able to remove his walking boot within the next 10-14 days, MLB.com reports.

At that point, Cruz will begin regaining strength and range of motion in his surgically-repaired left leg. Cruz had the operation on his leg in early April and the team said at the time they expected a four-month recovery, which tentatively puts him in line to be back sometime in August.

Cruz (fibula) had the staples removed this week from his surgically-repaired left leg, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz was also given clearance to begin upper-body conditioning weight lifting, the first significant step in what will be a long rehab process. The dynamic 24-year-old shortstop is expected to be sidelined until at least early August. Rodolfo Castro has been at short most days for the Pirates since the April 9 fibula fracture.

Cruz (fibula) was transferred Tuesday from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.

This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Eli Villalobos, who was claimed off waivers from the Marlins on Tuesday. Cruz is expected to be sidelined for at least the next four months after suffering a fractured fibula Sunday while sliding into home plate.

The Pirates placed Cruz (fibula) on the 10-day injured list Monday.

Cruz had surgery Sunday to repair a fractured left fibula and damaged syndesmosis. He's expected to be sidelined for about four months, so the Pirates are likely to move him to the 60-day IL once they need to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. Rodolfo Castro is expected to see the lion's share of playing time at shortstop for the Pirates while Cruz is out.

Cruz is expected to be sidelined for four months following surgery Sunday to repair a fractured left fibula and damaged syndesmosis.

It was reported earlier Monday that Cruz was expected to be out 10-12 weeks, but an official statement from the Pirates suggests the team anticipates it will be longer than that. Cruz suffered the injury during Sunday's game with the White Sox when he collided with catcher Seby Zavala at home plate. Rodolfo Castro is expected to receive the first opportunity to fill in for Cruz at shortstop.

Cruz underwent surgery Sunday after suffering a fractured left ankle in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the White Sox and is expected to be sidelined for 10-to-12 weeks, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

The Pirates haven't confirmed the timeline provided by Gorman, but the fact that Cruz required surgery to address the injury rather than going the rest-and-rehab route for treatment suggests he won't be on track to meet the short end of a timetable to return from a fractured ankle, which can be as few as six weeks. Expect Pittsburgh to place Cruz on the injured list ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Astros, though he may not go on the 60-day IL until the Pirates need to open up another spot on the 40-man roster. Rodolfo Castro and Ji Hwan Bae are likely to get the first chance to serve as the Pirates' everyday middle infielders while Cruz is on the shelf, though Tucupita Marcano and/or Chris Owings could be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and potentially make a push for playing time.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced after Sunday's victory over the White Sox that Cruz has a fractured left ankle, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

The injury occurred on a colission at home plate with White Sox catcher Seby Zavala. The star shortstop couldn't put much weight on his leg and required assistance to leave the field. Unfortunately, the fracture will assuredly place Cruz on the injured list, and could cost the 24-year-old a good portion of the 2023 season. A devastating loss for the Pirates, fantasy players and fans of exciting young players.

Cruz was removed in the bottom of the sixth inning of Sunday's game against the White Sox after suffering an apparent left leg injury following a collision at home plate with Chicago catcher Seby Zavala, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and stolen base prior to departing the game.

Cruz sustained the injury on a hard slide into home plate and was called out after being tagged by Zavala. The star shortstop didn't appear to be putting much weight on his leg and required assistance while limping off the field. The Pirates will likely provide an update on Cruz's condition later Sunday or shortly after the game, but the 24-year-old looks like a good bet to miss time, even if his injury isn't significant enough to require a trip to the injured list.

Cruz (face) is in the Pirates' lineup for Friday's home opener against the White Sox.

Cruz had to leave Wednesday's game with a facial injury following a collision with Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. However, it looks like he's ready to go following Thursday's off day. Cruz is 6-for-23 with one home run and one stolen base in the early going.

Cruz is being evaluated for a facial injury, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Cruz took a blow to the face as he collided with Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game at Fenway Park. It seemed to be his left eye that was giving him trouble. There should be more clarity on the issue ahead of the Pirates' home opener Friday afternoon against the White Sox. Pittsburgh is off Thursday.

Cruz was removed from Wednesday's game in Boston due to an apparent injury.

Cruz had an awkward collision with Rafael Devers near the third base bag in the top of the seventh inning and was replaced on the Pirates' infield before the bottom of the seventh. A trainer appeared to be looking at his left eye. He finished the day 1-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout.

Cruz went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

His modest four-game hit streak to begin the season came to an end, but Cruz made up for it with his first steal of 2023. The 24-year-old comes into the season with sky-high expectations after slugging 17 homers and stealing 10 bases in 87 big-league games last year, and while he's batting only .263 (5-for-19) with one home run and one stolen base through five games, his 3:4 BB:K is very encouraging. If Cruz's plate discipline takes a big step forward, a massive fantasy campaign is likely to follow.

Cruz went 1-for-2 with two walks, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Reds.

Cruz erased an early Reds lead with a missile of a home run, a 425-foot long ball off Hunter Greene clocked at 111.1 mph off the bat. His tools are just silly, and the walks are nice to see, suggesting the improved plate discipline from late last season might stick. While the team context isn't great, the upside is massive regardless for the Pirates' leadoff hitter.

Cruz is at leadoff for the Pirates in their season opener Thursday against the Reds.

Cruz jumped up into the leadoff spot down the stretch in 2022, and he can hopefully latch onto that role throughout the entire 2023 campaign. The dynamic 24-year-old shortstop has tallied 18 home runs and 10 stolen bases across his first 89 major-league games.

Cruz has struck out 11 times in 44 at-bats during Grapefruit League play.

Cruz has only 10 hits this spring -- four of which have gone for extra bases -- but his improved ability to make contact is a positive sign. He struck out at a 34.9 percent clip across 361 plate appearances in the majors last season, but he regularly kept his punchouts within the range of 25 percent throughout his minor-league career. If his increased contact rate can carry over into the regular season, it's a good bet that Cruz will improve upon his .233 average while also providing plenty of home runs and stolen bases.

Cruz has his contract renewed for the 2023 season by the Pirates on Wednesday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Cruz will make the league minimum $720,000 as he participates in his first full season of MLB action in 2023. The uber-athletic shortstop is expected to make a major leap forward in his development this year and will look to flex both his power at the plate and his speed on the bases. Cruz said late last month that he expects to have a 30 homer, 30 steal season for the Pirates, a lofty goal for the 24-year-old. He'll look to improve upon the uninspiring .233 average and 34.9 strikeout percentage he produced over 331 at-bats in 87 games last year.

The Pirates announced Wednesday that Cruz (ankle) is a "full go" for spring training, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Though Cruz sustained what was reported to be a minor ankle injury in December while he played in the Dominican Winter League, his availability for the start of spring training was never believed to be in much question. It's reassuring nonetheless that the Pirates have cleared him for full activity for the first week of camp, ensuring that the 24-year-old can continue to hone his craft in the field and at the plate during the Grapefruit League slate. Last week, Cruz told Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic that he expects to turn in a "30/30 or 40/40" season, and while that type of lofty production probably isn't realistic, a 20/20 season is certainly attainable for the toolsy shortstop if health prevails and he shows some growth as a hitter. In 361 plate appearances with the big club as a rookie last season, Cruz notched 17 home runs and 10 stolen bases, but a bloated 34.9 percent strikeout rate weighed down his batting average (.233).

Cruz suffered what's believed to be a minor ankle injury while playing in the Dominican Winter League on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

While it's good news that the Pirates are referring to the injury as minor, it's too early to say that Cruz is definitely in the clear. The injury is at least serious enough that the Pirates will have him undergo further tests. Once the results of those tests are known, it should become clear whether or not Cruz is at risk of missing time next season.

Cruz went 3-for-6 with a run scored and a stolen base in an 8-7 extra-inning loss Tuesday against St. Louis.

Cruz singled in the first, third and 10th innings, scoring a run in the first and stealing a base in the 10th. It was his 11th stolen base in 15 attempts this season and fourth steal since Sept. 23. He's had multi-hit performances in six of his last eight games, posting a .429/.487/.514 slash line in 39 plate appearances in that span. He's cut down on his strikeouts over the final part of the season and has a 5:5 BB:K in his last 44 plate appearances.

Cruz went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's victory over the Cardinals.

After receiving the day off Saturday, Cruz returned to form with two timely hits and a walk Sunday. The rookie led off the third with a single, stole second base to record his 10th steal of the season and came around to score on a sacrifice fly to put the Pirates up 4-3. He also scored after smashing a double in the fifth inning to tie the game at 5-5. Over his last 10 games, Cruz is batting .308 (12-for-39) with nine runs, two RBI and three stolen bases.

Cruz isn't starting Saturday against the Cardinals.

Cruz has been productive at the plate recently, hitting .455 with two doubles, five runs, two RBI, a stolen base, two walks and three strikeouts over the last five games. He'll get a breather while Kevin Newman starts at shortstop and bats fifth.

Cruz went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base Tuesday against the Reds.

Cruz led off the seventh inning with a single and promptly stole second base before coming around to score. While it is a small sample, Cruz has shown an improved ability to make contact by striking out only twice across his last six games and 28 plate appearances. He's slowly improved his overall line for the season, as he is now hitting .225/.281/.454 across 327 plate appearances while also tallying 17 home runs and nine stolen bases.

Cruz went 4-for-5 with two runs in Monday's 8-3 win against the Reds.

Cruz batted atop the order and did the job of a leadoff hitter, reaching base four times on singles. His hit in the fifth inning led to Pittsburgh's first run, though Cruz wasn't credited with an RBI since the runner crossed the plate due to an error. The rookie has followed a four-game, 0-for-13 stretch by going 6-for-9 and scoring three runs over his past two contests.

Cruz will be on the bench Saturday against the Cubs.

Cruz will get to rest his legs for the second straight day, as he served as the designated hitter Friday. His recent numbers suggest he could use a rest, as he's gone 5-for-46 with 24 strikeouts over his last 12 games. In typical Cruz fashion, however, he at least managed three homers and two steals over that stretch, preserving some amount of fantasy value. Kevin Newman will start at shortstop Saturday.

Cruz went 0-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Friday against the Cubs.

Cruz led off the first inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second base before coming around to score. He's hitless in his last four games, but he has worked five free passes and scored two runs in that span. Cruz has maintained an improved .237/.307/.550 line across 80 at-bats in September, also chipping in six home runs, two steals, 10 runs scored and 16 RBI.

Cruz went 0-for-2 with three walks and a run scored Tuesday against the Yankees.

Cruz has struggled with patience at the dish across 304 plate appearances this season, striking out at a 38.8 percent clip while walking only 6.9 percent of the time. Tuesday's performance marked only the third time for the campaign that he's worked multiple free passes in a game, though he still struck out twice. Despite just a .220 batting average, Cruz does have 17 homers and seven stolen bases in the partial season.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Mets.

Cruz hit an eighth inning home run that sent Tyler Heineman to the plate. It was his sixteenth homer of the year, his second in three days, and his fifth this month. Cruz is having his best stretch since he was called up to the big league club on June 20. The rookie shortstop is slashing .288/.311/.644 this month after going 17-of-59. Cruz has also struck out 23 times in that span, but has raised his batting average from .198 to .221.

Cruz went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Reds.

Cruz smacked his 15th homer of the season and fourth across 12 games in September. As has been the case for much of his big-league career, it's been a mixed bag for Cruz as he has also struck out at a 35.7 percent clip in the same 12-game span. Despite the troubling strikeout rate, Cruz has shown a tremendous ability to produce counting stats, racking up 14 homers, 44 RBI, 31 runs scored and seven stole bases across 278 plate appearances for the season.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds.

The hot-hitting rookie will hit the bench for the first time since Aug. 23, ending a 16-game stretch in which Cruz slashed .313/.353/.641 with four home runs and 14 RBI. With a southpaw (Mike Minor) on the hill for Cincinnati, the lefty-hitting Cruz will give way to the righty-hitting Kevin Newman at shortstop and atop the batting order.

Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Cardinals.

Cruz is on quite the tear during his seven-game hitting streak. He's gone 14-for-30 (.467) with three homers, eight RBI, five runs scored, two triples and two doubles in that span. The massive surge has him up to a .231/.279/.470 slash line with 14 homers, 43 RBI, 31 runs scored and six stolen bases through 66 contests. The walk he drew Saturday was his first in nine games, and while he's hot at the plate, he still has a 36.2 percent strikeout rate compared to a 6.4 percent walk rate.

Cruz went 3-for-5 with a triple, a double, one run scored and three RBI in Friday's 8-2 win over the Cardinals.

Cruz ripped a two-run triple and scored a run in the fifth inning before knocking an RBI single in the eighth. The electrifying rookie is starting to heat up down the stretch; he's now 12-for-30 (.400) with six extra-base hits and seven RBI through seven games this month. However, he's also struck out nine times while not drawing a walk during that stretch after another pair of strikeouts Friday. Cruz's season slash line has improved to .226/.273/.457 through 260 plate appearances.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Cruz took Ross Stripling yard in the fifth inning for his 12th homer of the season. Cruz is hitting .243 across his last 11 starts, but he has six extra-base hits in that span -- including three home runs, two triples and a double. He has had long spells with little production thanks to a 37.6 percent strikeout rate, though Cruz also has a .218 ISO to go along with six steals across 242 plate appearances for the season.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run Monday against the Brewers.

Cruz took Corbin Burnes deep in the fifth inning to tally his 11th home run of the season. He's still in the midst of an extended slump, as he's hit only .163 with a 42.9 percent strikeout rate across his last 14 starts -- including Monday. Even so, he's shown signs of being an excellent source of power and speed, delivering six stolen bases in addition to his 11 homers across 56 games this season.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in Sunday's victory over Philadelphia.

Cruz got things started with a bang as he crushed a triple to center field to lead off the game. The triple was his second of the season, which is a little surprising given his 99th percentile sprint speed and elite exit velocity. Despite the game changing tools, Cruz has failed to put it all together, slashing .199/.250/.398 on the season.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.

Even after popping a home run in Monday's 2-1 loss, the Cruz is still sitting on a .191/.258/.404 slash line since the All-Star break. In light of the rookie's ongoing struggles, the Pirates will likely look to limit his exposure to left-handed pitching. With southpaw Max Fried on the bump for Atlanta, the lefty-hitting Cruz will cede his spot in the middle infield to Rodolfo Castro.

Cruz went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's loss against Atlanta.

The rookies shortstop provided all of the offense for Pittsburgh Monday with a solo shot against Jake Odorizzi in the fifth inning. The round tripper was Cruz's 10th on the season and first since Aug. 6. The 23-year-old had been mired in a slump as he hit just .128 in 39 at bats leading up to Monday's bout with Atlanta which moved his average under the Mendoza line. Hopefully the homer is a sign of better things to come.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz is one of multiple lefty-hitting Pirates regulars who will bow out of the lineup with southpaw Mike Minor on the hill for the Reds. Kevin Newman will slide over from second base to replace Cruz at shortstop.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday against the Reds.

Cruz managed a hit for the second consecutive game, but that's hardly enough to mask the fact that he's struck out multiple times in each of his last five starts. He's now striking out a 37.6 percent clip across 194 plate appearances. As a result, Cruz is hitting only .198, which offsets his nine home runs and six stolen bases.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

The lefty-hitting Cruz will get a day off with southpaw Rich Hill taking the hill for Boston. Kevin Newman will shift over from second base to fill the rookie's usual spot at shortstop.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game at Arizona, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

Cruz started the past nine games and will receive a day off after posting a .235/.278/.500 slash line with three home runs, seven RBI, five runs and a 38.9 percent strikeout rate during that span. Kevin Neman will move to shortstop while Rodolfo Castro starts at the keystone.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's loss to the Orioles.

Cruz has just 11 hits in 13 games since the All-Star break, but five of them have left the park and he also has 12 RBI over that span. After bouncing around the batting order a bit, Cruz has now hit out of the fifth spot in four straight starts.

Cruz went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in an 8-7 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday.

Cruz blasted a line-drive home run 434 feet over the right field wall in the bottom of the seventh to help power the Pirates to a come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night at home. There have been some growing pains as the electrifying rookie shortstop adjusts to big-league pitching, as Cruz came into the game hitting only .209. However, Cruz's two-hit game lifted his average to .216 and he now has an impressive eight home runs in 36 games played.

Cruz went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a steal in Tuesday's victory over the Brewers.

Cruz showed the power and speed combination that scouts noted with a three-run shot and a stolen base Tuesday. It was his seventh home run and fifth steal since the shortstop made his season debut on June 20. Despite a tantalizing combination of power and speed, Cruz has a 48:7 K:BB ratio and 27 hits, giving him a .209 batting average for the year.

Cruz isn't starting Saturday against the Phillies.

Cruz started the last six games and hit .217 with two home runs, five RBI, a walk and six strikeouts. Kevin Newman will take his place at shortstop while Diego Castillo starts at second base.

Cruz went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Cubs.

The rookie went yard in the seventh inning to spoil Keegan Thompson's shutout bid and provide Pittsburgh with its only bright spot on the day. Cruz has a six-game hit streak going, but he's still only slashing .221/.252/.442 through his first 30 big-league contests with a 35.3 percent strikeout rate. His six homers and four steals are a reminder of his impressive upside, however.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss against Miami.

Cruz led off the scoring with a solo home run off Sandy Alcantara in the third inning. It was his fifth home run since being called up on June 20. Cruz has started to heat up as he is on a four-game hit streak. One major issue for the young star is that he also has eight strikeouts in those four games and has a 36.6% strikeout rate for the season. He is slashing .208/.241/.415 for Pittsburgh in 28 games this year.

Cruz is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Marlins.

Cruz will get a breather to open the second half of the season as the Pirates start a three-game set against the Marlins. Kevin Newman will slide over to shortstop while Diego Castillo draws the start at second base and bats fifth in the series opener.

Cruz went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Wednesday against the Marlins.

Cruz did all of his damage in the fifth inning when he led off with a walk, stole second base and came around to score on a single by Ben Gamel. Cruz has had some growing pains in his first substantial stint in the majors, though he now has three stolen bases to go along with four home runs in 21 games. However, he's also hitting just .210 for the season, in large part due to a 34.9 percent strikeout rate across 86 plate appearances.

Cruz isn't starting Monday's game against the Marlins, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz started in the last four games and went 4-for-15 with a homer, a double, three runs, two RBI and a stolen base. Kevin Newman will shift to shortstop while Josh VanMeter starts at second base Monday.

Cruz went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Sunday against the Brewers.

Cruz took Trevor Gott yard in the sixth inning to record his fourth home run of the season. He has shown the expected pop in his bat since being promoted June 20, as nine of his 16 hits have gone for extra bases. On the other hand, Cruz has a 34.2 percent strikeout rate which has deflated to his batting average to .213 across 79 plate appearances.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Reds.

After sitting out the afternoon game, Cruz returned for Game 2 and notched his second steal of the campaign. The strikeouts are piling up at an alarming rate (22 strikeouts now in 17 MLB games this season), and Cruz will need to make more consistent contact in the years to come to get the most out of his immense skills.

Cruz isn't starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Reds.

Cruz will get a breather after he hit .156 with three homers, a double, six RBI and four runs over his last nine games. Diego Castillo is starting at shortstop and batting fifth during Thursday's matinee.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday against the Brewers.

Cruz took Aaron Ashby yard in the fourth inning to tally his third homer of the season. He's striking out at a 32.7 percent clip but has still managed 12 RBI and seven runs scored across 13 games since being recalled. Cruz has also flashed his power regularly, with seven of his 11 hits going for extra bases.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Brewers.

Cruz took Adrian Houser yard in the second inning to record his second home run of the season. Unsurprisingly, his power has translated quickly to the big-league level as five of Cruz's nine hits have gone for extra bases. However, he has also struck out at a 31.8 percent clip, suppressing his batting average to a mark of .214 across 44 plate appearances.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Nationals.

Cruz occupied the leadoff spot for the Pirates and smacked his first homer of 2022 in the fifth inning against Erick Fedde. He has delivered production in line with his promising tools across eight games in Pittsburgh by racking up four extra-base hits, driving in eight, scoring five runs and swiping a base.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz started all six games since being called up for his major-league debut Monday, and he'll receive a breather in the series finale at Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old has gone 7-for-27 with three doubles, seven RBI, four runs and a stolen base. Diego Castillo will take over at shortstop Sunday for the Buccos.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Cubs.

Cruz recorded an RBI double in the sixth inning and has driven in at least one run in all four games since arriving in Pittsburgh. Though he's yet to go yard in 2022, Cruz has two extra-base hits, four runs scored and seven RBI across 18 at-bats. Cruz has hit primarily in the bottom-third of the order, though that should change as the season progresses.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Cubs.

The Pirates' top prospect wasn't particularly successful on the basepaths for Triple-A Indianapolis prior to his promotion, stealing 11 bases on 17 attempts in 55 games, but Cruz is now 1-for-1 in the majors. The 23-year-old has the athleticism to be a power-speed threat, but the development of his hit tool will ultimately determine how much of a fantasy impact he can make. Three hits in nine at-bats with only one strikeout through his first two MLB games is a strong start.

Cruz went 2-for-5 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 12-1 win over the Cubs.

Cruz was as advertised in his season debut Monday, flashing his potential as a five-tool star. His most impactful moment was a rocket line-drive double that brought in three runs during the third inning. Per MLB Pipeline, the 23-year-old shortstop recorded the fastest throw by an MLB infielder this season while also posting elite sprint speeds. Cruz posted a .758 OPS with Triple-A Indianapolis this season but it looks like he'll be a permanent fixture in the Pirates' lineup moving forward.

The Pirates recalled Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

Infielder Liover Peguero was sent to Double-A Altoona to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Cruz, who is with the big club for the first time in 2022 after getting the chance to make his MLB debut last September. The Pirates delayed calling up Cruz more than two months into the season for dubious reasons, but he'll likely be immediately installed as the team's everyday shortstop. Over his 55 games with Indianapolis this season, Cruz slashed .232/.336/.422 with nine home runs and 11 stolen bases across 247 plate appearances.

The Pirates plan to call up Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis in advance of Monday's game against the Cubs, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Cruz's impending promotion comes after he was withheld from the Indianapolis lineup Sunday, with the 23-year-old concluding his time at Triple-A with a .233/.337/.424 slash line to go with nine home runs and 11 stolen bases across 246 plate appearances. According to Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington reiterated in an interview earlier Sunday that the organization views Cruz as a shortstop, so he's expected to fill an everyday role at that position even though he's also received some exposure in left field at Triple-A this season. With Cruz in line to take over as Pittsburgh's primary shortstop, Diego Castillo is expected to transition into more of a utility role.

Cruz went 0-for-3 with a walk with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Cruz returned to the lineup after suffering a minor ankle injury Sunday. He was seemingly at full strength as he also handled his normal defensive duties at shortstop. Cruz has showcased his significant power potential of late by slugging .500 across 90 at-bats in May, though his timeline to return to Pittsburgh remains unclear.

Cruz sustained a minor ankle injury at Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz tweaked his ankle while sliding into second base during Sunday's minor-league matchup, and he left the game early. Although the 23-year-old's injury is classified as minor, it's not clear whether he'll be forced to miss additional time. Cruz is slashing .220/.330/.402 with seven homers, 30 runs, 27 RBI and 10 stolen bases over 41 games with Indianapolis in 2022.

Cruz has started 10 games at shortstop as opposed to only one in left field with Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the season.

When the Pirates optioned Cruz to the minors to start the season, part of the stated reason was to get him reps in the outfield. While he did start one of his first five games in left field, Cruz has played exclusively at shortstop since. It's unclear what that may mean for his defensive home in the long term, but it suggests that he will play in the infield upon his promotion to the majors this season. It's also uncertain when Cruz may return to Pittsburgh, as he has hit only .175/.283/.275 across 46 plate appearances with Indianapolis.

Cruz started in left field for Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

As part of their decision to send Cruz to Triple-A to begin the season, Pirates management stated that they wanted the prospect to get experience in the outfield. However, through five games with Indianapolis, Cruz has appeared at shortstop four times as opposed to the outfield only once. However, he looked quite accustomed to left field when he made a sliding catch in the top of the seventh inning to save a likely extra-base hit while fieldng the position Sunday. It's not clear when Cruz may the call to Pittsburgh, though he's maintained a .381 on-base percentage with one extra-base hit across 21 plate appearances in Indianapolis.

Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Cruz made a brief, two-game MLB debut last October, and it's not hard to argue he's one of the Pirates' 26 best players already despite his inexperience, but the team will choose to prioritize delaying his free agency by a year. The new collective bargaining agreement allows players who finish in the top two in their league's Rookie of the Year voting to gain a full year of service regardless of how much time they spend on the major-league roster, so the Pirates are now heavily incentivized to keep him in the minors long enough to make sure that doesn't happen. In the Pirates' defense, Cruz has only played six Triple-A games, but it's not as if the team has compelling options to start over him. Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker should earn most of the at-bats at shortstop until Cruz returns.

Despite his hot start this spring, Cruz may still open the year at Triple-A, according to the Associated Press. "There's still development to be had there," manager Derek Shelton said. "Oneil is going to have an impact on our club this year at some point. When that is, I don't think any of us know."

Cruz has already hit two impressive home runs in spring training and he has zero strikeouts or walks through two games. According to the report, both Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington have said they want Cruz to get experience playing the outfield, and it would make more sense for him to get those reps at Triple-A. For his part, Cruz is adamant that he's a shortstop. "I feel like I've demonstrated a lot," Cruz said, "but I guess I've just got to continue demonstrating." Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker are the other competitors for the starting spot at shortstop. While the team is pumping the brakes on the idea of Cruz breaking camp in the majors, he could probably force their hand if he continues to dominate at the plate.

Cruz went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Reds.

Cruz swatted a 408-foot shot in the ninth inning of Sunday's loss, his first MLB long ball. The 6-foot-7 rookie went 3-for-9 with three RBI in his quick two-game taste of big-league action this season.

Cruz went 2-for-5 with two singles, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 8-6 win over the Reds.

After tearing it up in the minors this season, Cruz was awarded a late season call-up by manager Derek Shelton. The 6-foot-7 shortstop did not disappoint, scalding a pair of base hits (including one that came off the bat at 118.2 mph) and picking up the first RBI of his career. As the third-ranked prospect in the Pirates' system, there are already high expectations for what the 22-year-old can bring to the table next year.

Cruz was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.

Cruz's call-up was expected since manager Derek Shelton wanted to reward the 22-year-old following a successful season in the minors. He'll start at shortstop and bat eighth in his major-league debut against the Reds on Saturday.

Cruz's contract will be selected by the Pirates on Saturday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz spent most of the season at Double-A Altoona but was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis in late September. He appeared in six games in Indianapolis and hit .524 with five homers, 11 runs, seven RBI and a stolen base. The 22-year-old will have a chance to make his major-league debut during the final two games of the regular season.

Cruz is expected to be called up to Triple-A Indianapolis to close out the season, Jarrod Prugar of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

Cruz missed a month and a half with a forearm strain earlier in the season and will advance to Indianapolis for the first time. The 22-year-old appeared in 62 games at Double-A Altoona this year and slashed .292/.346/.536 with 12 homers, 51 runs, 40 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Cruz went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in Double-A Altoona's 11-3 win over Somerset on Friday.

He served as the team's designated hitter in his first game action since June 30. Despite talk of moving him to the outfield, Cruz has played exclusively at shortstop in 2021. Whether the 6-foot-7 prospect sees time in the outfield remains to be seen. He's slashing .298/.356/.551 with nine homers and 10 stolen bases in 195 Double-A plate appearances.

Cruz (forearm) was activated from the 7-day injured list by Double-A Altoona on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz has been sidelined six weeks by a forearm strain but he's back on the active roster for the Curve on Friday. The 22-year-old is expected to be eased back into the lineup at designated hitter before returning to the outfield.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (forearm) has resumed taking full swings in the batting cage, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Pittsburgh anticipates that Cruz will take another step forward in his recovery from a forearm strain later in the week, when he's scheduled to face pitching in live batting practice. Since Cruz has been out since late June with the injury, he'll likely require a rehab assignment in the lower levels of the minors before Double-A Altoona reinstates him from the 7-day injured list.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk revealed Wednesday that Cruz (forearm) is now asymptomatic, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz recently rejoined Double-A Altoona to continue his recovery, and his forearm is now feeling normal. The right-hander will be evaluated in the coming days to determine his next steps.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (forearm) is still experiencing mild symptoms, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz has rejoined Double-A Altoona to continue his recovery process, but the team continues to bring him along slowly to prevent a setback. However, Tomczyk said that the 22-year-old will require rest and time before he's cleared to return, and surgery isn't currently an option being considered. A better timetable for his return could be revealed once he's cleared to ramp up his workload.

Cruz has been diagnosed with a forearm strain, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list Tuesday after he had experienced forearm soreness recently. However, Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that he doesn't believe the injury is particularly serious, and the right-hander could return after 2-3 weeks.

Cruz (forearm) was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list Tuesday, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cruz hasn't appeared in a game since June 30 due to a sore forearm, and the injury is apparently serious enough to warrant a trip to the injured list. General manager Ben Cherington recently said that he doesn't believe the injury is serious, but it's not yet clear when the 22-year-old will be able to return. Prior to the injury, Cruz slashed .289/.349/.538 with nine homers, 34 runs, 29 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 43 games at Double-A Altoona.

Cruz is being examined by team doctors in Pittsburgh for a sore forearm, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Cruz hasn't seen the field for Double-A Altoona since Wednesday, and he's now head to Pittsburgh to be evaluated. GM Ben Cherington doesn't believe it's a series issue, so the 22-year-old may not be sidelined for long.

Cruz went 4-for-5 with a homer, four RBI and three stolen bases in a 9-4 win over Richmond on Wednesday.

After a slow start for Double-A Altoona, Cruz has strung together a seven-game hitting streak during which he's gone 11-for-30 with three homers and five stolen bases. On the downside, the 22-year-old has already made eight errors in 22 games while playing shortstop exclusively. A move to the outfield may still be in the offing. After a lackluster showing in spring training, Cruz is building back his prospect tag and could become a candidate for promotion to Triple-A this summer.

Cruz was optioned off the active roster Tuesday.

Cruz could make a push for his big-league debut at some point this season, but it's no surprise he won't be on the Opening Day roster. He's yet to advance beyond Double-A and has gone just 1-for-20 at the plate in Grapefruit League action so far this spring. He's expected to spend some time in center field as he looks to expand his versatility beyond just shortstop, which could give him more paths to the major-league roster.

Cruz went 0-for-1 with a walk and run scored in Sunday's loss to Philadelphia.

He has just one hit and two walks in 19 spring at-bats. Despite talks of moving the 22-year-old to the outfield, Cruz has primarily played shortstop on defense this spring, making only two appearances in center field. He's likely ticketed to Triple-A Indianapolis in an effort to gain experience in the upper minors before potentially making his MLB debut later this summer.

Cruz will start in center field Thursday for the first time in his career, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

"It's just adding something else to his tool box and like we've talked about, versatility is important for our roster," manager Derek Shelton said. "So we're going to put him out there and see how it goes." While there's a good chance Cruz's final destination is right field, Shelton shifted him to center because the angles are more similar to those at shortstop than in right field. The 22-year-old is 1-for-5 with a walk in the early going.

For the first time Sunday, general manager Ben Cherington announced that Cruz could practice at other positions in addition to shortstop during spring training, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

While Cherington believes that the 22-year-old could play shortstop in the big leagues, Cruz's most likely path to Pittsburgh may be as a right fielder, given his 6-foot-7 stature. The general manager gave no update to the offseason accident involving Cruz, but he has already gone on record as indicating alcohol was not a part of the car crash which took the lives of three people and he doesn't expect the tragedy to impact Cruz's baseball future. The prospect batted .245 in 49 at-bats during Dominican Winter League play, with a 1:14 BB:K.

General manager Ben Cherington expects Cruz to take part in spring training despite the 21-year-old's role in an offseason accident in the Dominican Republic, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

"No reason to believe he wouldn't be available for spring training, full participant," Cherington said. "No information that I have that would suggest he wouldn't be." The accident took the lives of three people. Some reports coming out of the Dominican Republic remain unclear and fantasy owners will still need to take a wait-and-see approach with the fallout from the tragedy.

Cruz was detained by transit authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday after a car he was driving struck a motorcycle in an accident in which three people lost their lives, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.

He was part of the Pirates' 60-man player pool but apparently had returned to his native country. Cruz was reportedly traveling outside the hours allowed by the Dominican Republic, established as a measure to counter the spread of COVID-19, so he could be punished for that violation. There will also be an investigation regarding his role in the accident.

Cruz was named to the Pirates' 60-man player pool Sunday.

Cruz hit .217 with one homer and four RBI in 23 at-bats during February and March, but a 1:11 K:BB shows he likely needs more time in the minors. The 6-foot-7 infielder slashed .298/.356/.475 with eight homers and 11 steals in 265 at-bats split between three minor-league levels in 2019. He remains one of the organization's brightest offensive prospects, but it will take a number of injuries for him to garner playing time in Pittsburgh before 2021.

Cruz was optioned to Double-A Altoona on Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Cruz played 35 games for Altoona last season, homering once and stealing three bases while hitting .269/.346/.412. Despite his unusual size for a shortstop (6-foot-7), the Pirates reportedly have no imminent plans for him to change positions.

Cruz, who went 1-for-3 with a run scored Wednesday, is batting .235 in 17 Grapefruit-League at-bats.

The 6-foot-7 shortstop hasn't looked out of place defensively thus far, even if he's expected to eventually move to another position. Cruz showed off a glimpse of his power potential with tape-measure homer Sunday, stroking a prodigious shot over the center field wall. He's expected to start the season at Double-A and has done nothing to diminish his prospect tag in spring training, though a 0:7 BB:K throws up a hint of caution in his timeline.

Cruz, who saw his first action at the Double-A level in 2019, has received his first invitation to major-league spring training, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.

"My goal is to make it to the big leagues this year," Cruz said. "I want to do everything possible to make it to the big leagues this year. For me, there's nothing impossible." The 21-year-old prospect is an oddity because of his size -- he stands 6-foot-7 -- and the position he currently plays, shortstop. While some projections have Cruz delivering monster power, he's hit 10, 14 and eight home runs in his last three seasons, respectively. Since there are few size comparisons for Cruz, predicting his path may prove difficult. After returning from an early season right-foot fracture in 2019, he hit well in High-A (.301/.345/.515) before jumping to Double-A (.269/.346/.412) for the final month. He then struggled in the Arizona Fall League, batting .190 with a 7:21 BB:K mark in 42 at-bats. Cruz represents one of Pittsburgh's brightest prospects and it will be interesting to see how team's new management handles his progression.