Pirates may have gotten lucky with Michael A. Taylor DFA after Oneil Cruz tutelage

Oneil Cruz has started at center field in just one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he already has a Gold Glove. Well, sort of.

Making his debut at the position in Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs, Cruz could be seen sporting a turquoise outfield mitt embroidered with a gold Rawlings patch. It was on loan to him from Pirates teammate Michael A. Taylor, who won an American League Gold Glove at center field with the Kansas City Royals in 2021.

Taylor, who had been the Pirates' everyday center fielder for much of the 2024 season, was placed on outright waivers Sunday in the midst of the worst offensive season of his 11-year MLB career (.194/.256/.283). He went unclaimed, however, allowing him to remain on the Pirates' active roster for the time being.

The fact that Taylor wasn't claimed off waivers by another team may have been a blessing in disguise for the Pirates, who announced Monday that Cruz would be making a permanent move from shortstop to center field – a position he had never played before, at any level. After all, who better to help show Cruz the lay of the land than a Gold Glove center fielder who used to be a shortstop?

Taylor, selected in the sixth round by the Washington Nationals in the 2009 MLB Draft, was an infielder in his first pro season before switching to the outfield. He told Kevin Gorman of TribLIVE that the key to his success was accepting the change and "committing myself to be the best outfielder that I can be."

Pirates' Oneil Cruz makes debut at center field in series finale vs. Cubs

Cruz spent two games as the designated hitter in the Pirates' starting lineup before officially making the switch to center field. He was already putting in work in the outfield before Tuesday's game against the Cubs, however, taking fly balls from a pitching machine with Pirates outfield coach Tarrik Brock and making pre-pitch reads with Taylor before shagging flies during batting practice.

The move may have taken Cruz by surprise, but would appear that he is heeding Taylor's advice and accepting the change. Maybe one day, he'll win a Gold Glove of his own; in the meantime, though, he may want to invest in his own outfield mitt.

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