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. 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. Now, with the injury in his rearview, Oneil Cruz will be looking to help the Pittsburgh Pirates take the next step toward contention. At 6-foot-7, Cruz will literally be a big part of the... 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. O’Neill got a $49.5 million deal that is equally split to $16.5 million each of the next three seasons. Sánchez got an $8.5 million contract for likely a backup role behind All-Star.

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’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. 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. 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. Oneil Cruz is a player of extremes. The 6-foot-7 shortstop — the tallest man ever to play the position regularly — doesn’t just have incredible bat speed and power, he can lay claim to the... 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. 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. 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. O’Neill got a $49.5 million deal that is equally split to $16.5 million each of the next three seasons. Sánchez got an $8.5 million contract for likely a backup role behind All-Star.

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. 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. Now, with the injury in his rearview, Oneil Cruz will be looking to help the Pittsburgh Pirates take the next step toward contention. At 6-foot-7, Cruz will literally be a big part of the... 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. 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. Oneil Cruz is a player of extremes. The 6-foot-7 shortstop — the tallest man ever to play the position regularly — doesn’t just have incredible bat speed and power, he can lay claim to the...

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. 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.