Oneil Cruz's startling home run vs. Yankees emphasized Pirates' advantage

On Tuesday afternoon in Bradenton, Florida, Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz made New York Yankees No. 12 prospect Cam Schlittler turn into embarrassed vapor.

With two men on and one out in an otherwise meaningless mid-spring bottom of the third inning, Cruz snapped every Pirates fan's head at a 180-degree angle with a jaw-dropping reminder of why we love this game. This type of memorable lightning bolt could strike at any moment, in the sleepiest frame of the snooziest game. Cruz, in particular, is the kind of one-of-one you could sit through an entire generation waiting to arrive on your favorite team; the Pirates might just have one in the lineup and rotation at the exact same time. Paul Skenes also pitched today, one of the rare times he'll ever be overshadowed.

This particular baseball was obliterated at an exit velocity of 114.9 MPH, and escaped over the right field fence faster than the camera could capture it. During the ball's extremely short flight, Pirates fans still had enough time to come to the realization that whatever is best for Cruz's long-term health, viability and mood is good for the Pirates.

While the midseason move away from shortstop and into center field seemed drastic/on a dime last season, Cruz seemed to enjoy roaming the grounds. He was bound to outgrow the shortstop position someday, after all, and was struggling defensively in the meantime. Now, he'll enter 2025 as a top-10 center fielder in baseball, by some assessments, and Tuesday was another reminder that, while he'll still have growing pains from time to time, there is no other team in baseball with a center fielder who can do this.

Pirates' center fielder Oneil Cruz mashes 114.9 MPH home run off Yankees' Cam Schlittler at spring training

If something goes south, and Cruz needs to find a new home (even as a perma-DH) someday, the Pirates will handle it. Homers like Tuesday's make the truth even more obvious: they need to do whatever it takes to keep him upright and contributing in the lineup. No unnecessary outfield risks. No unscheduled interactions with the center field wall. And, if he ever wants to move again, they should probably accommodate him.

After all, a full season of Cruz should provide plenty more of these one-of-a-kind moments. They're why we watch.