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Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Oneil Cruz off to a Hot Start at Triple-A

By Marty Leap

Jul 18, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (61) runs the base against the Cleveland Indians during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Indians won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (61) runs the base against the Cleveland Indians during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Indians won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Through his first 19 trips to the plate with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians slugging Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz is off to a great start

Slugging shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz was promoted by the Pittsburgh Pirates from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis on September 19th. During his first week with the Indianapolis Indians the left-handed hitting slugger has been crushing Triple-A pitching.

Prior to being promoted to the Triple-A level Cruz was putting together a tremendous season with the Curve. In 273 plate appearances with Altoona Cruz was hitting for a .292/.346/.536 slash line to go with a .244 isolate slugging (ISO), an 11.7% extra base hit rate and a wRC+ of 136.

What may have been most encouraging from Cruz at the Double-A level was his strikeout rate. His 23.4% strikeout rate was he second lowest of his professional career. This led to a new career best contact rate and his best line drive rate his he was in the GCL in 2019.

Since joining the Indians Cruz has picked up where he left off at with the Curve. Cruz has accumulated 19 plate appearances in four games with the Indians thus far.

Cruz is 6-for-14 with 5 walks and a stolen base thus far at the Triple-A level. The slugger has also already hit 3 home runs, including going opposite field off of a left-handed pitcher. It has not taken Cruz long to begin to put his limitless power potential on display for the Indians.

Few prospects in all of minor league baseball, let alone the Pirate farm system, has the power potential that Cruz does. That power potential continues to be on full display as he rises through the Pirate minor league system.

dark. Next. Second Base Options for the Start of 2022

Had it not been for a forearm issue earlier in the season Cruz likely would have been to Triple-A a month ago, if not sooner. It is great to not just see Cruz finally at the Triple-A level but finding success there. If Cruz can come out of the gate hot in 2022 he could find himself in the heart of the lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates sooner rather than later.

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