Oneil Cruz: The Next Big Thing in Baseball?

Maybe that Oneil Cruz is about to be a breakout slugger. The Pirates' 23-year-old, 6-foot-7 shortstop played only two games when making his big league debut at the very end of. 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. Scouting Report: Cruz boasts plus power, speed and throwing ability and has a legitimate chance to stick in the infield. He possesses otherworldly raw power, generating elite. Cruz, the Pirates' 6-foot-7 prospect, made some noise in his big-league debut and could be a sign of the Pirates' fortunes changing. The Pirates are moving talented youngster Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field. He's in the lineup as designated hitter Monday night, but will transition to center and.

He could have made a mockery of Triple-A pitching for the first two weeks, forcing the Pirates to call him up before the end of April. But the next big service-time milestone is. Cruz has the raw power and bat speed to produce some incredible power numbers and exit velocities. But on Tuesday, he did something no player has done in the. Oneil Cruz completed his first extended look of big league action after the Pirates called up the recently-turned 24-year-old midseason. In 87 games with the Bucs, Cruz posted a .744 OPS. He hit 17 homers, drove in 54. If baseball requires a very specific kind of physicality—fast hands, meaty haunches, torque-able hips—Cruz is a truly stupefying athlete by any standard; At 6’7, 220 pounds, he’s. Cruz’s missile was the hardest-hit ball all season, beating, ahem, his 120.4-mph single in the first — and it came off a 100.3-mph cutter from Doval, no less. He also hit a 116.3. 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. On Monday, Cruz surpassed Joey Gallo for the highest strikeout rate in all of MLB (38.79% to 38.77%). He has whiffed an outrageous 116 times in 299 plate appearances this. Cruz, the Pirates' 6-foot-7 prospect, made some noise in his big-league debut and could be a sign of the Pirates' fortunes changing. Maybe that Oneil Cruz is about to be a breakout slugger. The Pirates' 23-year-old, 6-foot-7 shortstop played only two games when making his big league debut at the very end of. Pirates manager Derek Shelton joins MLB Tonight to discuss Oneil Cruz's transition to center field, players taking the next step and more News. Rule ... Rule Changes Probable.

Oneil Cruz completed his first extended look of big league action after the Pirates called up the recently-turned 24-year-old midseason. In 87 games with the Bucs, Cruz posted a .744 OPS. He hit 17 homers, drove in 54. 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. Towering Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is hoping to turn last fall’s cameo into a full-time job in the major leagues. The 6-foot-7 Cruz is considered a linchpin of Pittsburgh’s. On Monday, Cruz surpassed Joey Gallo for the highest strikeout rate in all of MLB (38.79% to 38.77%). He has whiffed an outrageous 116 times in 299 plate appearances this. Scouting Report: Cruz boasts plus power, speed and throwing ability and has a legitimate chance to stick in the infield. He possesses otherworldly raw power, generating elite. If you want to maximize Cruz's speed, chasing down fly balls and giving him a large canvas to work with in center field could do it. In smaller spaces like shortstop, reaction distance and bursts towards short distances are more important. Cruz, the Pirates' 6-foot-7 prospect, made some noise in his big-league debut and could be a sign of the Pirates' fortunes changing.

If baseball requires a very specific kind of physicality—fast hands, meaty haunches, torque-able hips—Cruz is a truly stupefying athlete by any standard; At 6’7, 220 pounds, he’s. On Monday, Cruz surpassed Joey Gallo for the highest strikeout rate in all of MLB (38.79% to 38.77%). He has whiffed an outrageous 116 times in 299 plate appearances this.