Oneil Cruz proved he doesn’t need power to change a game for Pirates

There’s a version of Oneil Cruz that can break a game with one violent swing.

And then there’s the version the Pittsburgh Pirates saw on Sunday — the one that might be even more dangerous.

Because this time, Cruz didn’t need power to decide the outcome.

In a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park, Cruz delivered the only run of the game not with a towering homer, but with something far more telling: a controlled, situational swing. A moment of discipline.

With two outs and runners on, Cruz came up in a scoreless game where one swing could mean everything — or nothing. That’s been the tightrope he’s walked throughout his career. The temptation to be the hero with one massive blast is always there, especially for a player whose raw power sits in the top percentile of the sport.

But this wasn’t about highlight-reel distance. It was about execution. After falling behind in the count and chasing a pitch out of the zone, Cruz recalibrated. He laid off another borderline breaking ball from Tony Santillan, then battled back into the at-bat.

When a 96-mph fastball climbed the ladder, Cruz didn’t try to do too much. He didn’t overswing. He stayed compact — or at least as compact as a 6-foot-7 hitter can — and drove the ball 103.8 mph right back up the middle.

And that was the game.

Oneil Cruz's game-winning RBI single vs Reds showed improved plate discipline, growth

It’s easy to overlook a single in the box score. It’s harder to ignore what it represents.

For years, Cruz has been defined by extremes — extreme power, extreme bat speed, and at times, extreme swing decisions. The conversation has always centered around what he could be if everything clicks.

What Sunday showed is that things are starting to click, just not in the way people always expected them to.

The next step in Cruz’s evolution was never going to be about hitting the ball harder. He already does that better than almost anyone. It’s about understanding when not to.

That’s what makes this version of Cruz so intriguing. When he’s able to pair his elite physical tools with situational awareness, he becomes more than just a power threat. He becomes a complete offensive force — someone who can hurt you in multiple ways, in any moment.

Pirates manager Don Kelly pointed to that balance after the game, noting how every hitter wants to be the one to deliver the big hit. For Cruz, the challenge has always been channeling that instinct without letting it take over. On Sunday, he did exactly that.

It may only go down as an RBI single, but for the Pirates, it felt bigger than that. In a game where runs were scarce and pressure was high, Cruz proved something important — not just to his team, but to anyone still waiting for him to “figure it out.”

He doesn’t need to be a one-dimensional slugger to change a game. In fact, if Sunday is any indication, the most impactful version of Oneil Cruz might be the one who knows exactly when not to swing for the fences.

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