Pirates throw newest call-up into the fire immediately in Wednesday lineup

Following a collision with Jack Suwinski on Tuesday night, Pirates star Oneil Cruz was immediately taken out of the game to get tested for concussion symptoms. The testing evidently did not go well, as Cruz hit the seven-day injured list on Wednesday and Ronny Simon was recalled to take his spot on the active roster. The Pirates apparently feel very confident with Simon on the roster, as Don Kelly threw him in at leadoff without hesitation in his first game with the big club.

Simon has proven in Triple-A that he is deserving of a spot in the big leagues. In Indianapolis this season, Simon belted seven home runs, batting .291 with a 16.5% strikeout rate and walk clip of 13.2%. His wRC+ reached 124 and he also added 24 stolen bases.

His tools project well as a leadoff hitter, and in his first Pirates game, he will play right field. He also plays second base, too, but with Nick Gonzales being arguably the best hitter in the lineup, Simon will likely only play in the outfield for the time being. Fortunately for him, Alexander Canario and Suwinski have not earned everyday reps out there, so Simon has the ideal spot to compete for a roster spot in 2026.

Pirates' Oneil Cruz replacement Ronny Simon quickly bats leadoff, making fans wonder what the wait was for.

Since they were so comfortable in batting him leadoff, why wasn’t he up here weeks, or even months, ago when the offense was lousy? He has been a solid hitter in the minor leagues and, as a switch-hitter with speed and great plate discipline, he deserves a spot over others who've occupied roster spots this year. Sure, Simon struggled initially with Miami, but he only got 56 plate appearances. That didn't represent a real stint to determine what he brings.

Simon also has three minor-league options remaining, so it’s not like if there was anything preventing the Pirates from demoting him if things went awry.

It is very odd that Simon wasn’t given a chance earlier. His time is here now, and he needs to hit like he did in Triple-A to have a shot at the big league roster in 2026. His tools give him a great chance to help the Pirates improve offensively, but this team hasn’t done well with utilizing anyone's tools. Simon is leading off against Brandon Woodruff, a very tough first test against the red-hot Brewers.