Healthy Oneil Cruz eager for spring training as Pirates teammates welcome his return

Losing Oneil Cruz at such an early juncture of the 2023 campaign was a major hurdle the Pittsburgh Pirates had to clear.

Cruz’s ankle fracture, suffered on a slide into home plate against the White Sox on April 9, ended up sidelining him after just nine games.

After Cruz underwent ankle surgery shortly thereafter, the Pirates remained hopeful he could see the field before the season ended, but the 6-foot-7 shortstop suffered a rehabilitation setback in late August, leading to the club shutting him down for the season Sept. 12.

The extended time off was not easy on Cruz, who longed to return to action.

“It was tough. It got to a point that I couldn’t even sleep at night, just thinking that I couldn’t be on the field helping my team,” Cruz said through translator Stephen Morales. “It was tough, for sure.”

But now, as spring training nears, Cruz is healthy and excited to get back in the swing of things after an abbreviated sophomore campaign.

“All good. One-hundred percent now,” Cruz said. “Everything’s like it’s supposed to be. … Now that I feel 100% again, just go out there like I do every year and give my 100% out there and be ready from Day 1.”

In 2022, Cruz flashed major potential in the batter’s box and at shortstop, wowing fans with his moonshot “Cruz missile” home runs and elite arm strength.

Cruz played in 87 games, hitting .233 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs while finishing sixth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

At the time of his injury last April, Cruz was hitting .250 with a home run and four RBIs.

Cruz’s excitement to get back on the baseball diamond is matched, if not exceeded, by his teammates, who know what he brings to the lineup and clubhouse on a daily basis.

“We’re all very happy and excited to see him back,” infielder Liover Peguero said. “Of course, it’s Oneil Cruz. Who doesn’t love to see a Cruz missile? Besides his baseball skills, he’s a really great person. … He’s just such a nice guy. He’s always trying to help and just talk through things all the time. I feel like that’s one of the main and most important things that he has, and I think that’s very special.”

Cruz’s injury deprived the Pirates of their leadoff hitter and starting shortstop.

The club’s efforts to replace him — if someone uniquely talented as Cruz can truly be replaced — were a mixed bag.

The Pirates utilized 12 hitters at leadoff by season’s end in addition to eight players at shortstop.

“Just another dynamic piece,” outfielder Bryan Reynolds said. “He can get on base. He’s fast, obviously, and can drive in some runs. It’s just another dynamic piece that’s going to help everybody around him.”

Ke’Bryan Hayes echoed Reynolds’ point about Cruz helping those around him, in particular how his power and ability on the bases presents a challenge to opposing pitchers.

“How he can impact the game, all facets of the game, just what he does for the other team, their preparation, what they have to do to maneuver the lineup, it’s huge for us,” Hayes said.

“He can change the game at any time. We love him. Good teammate. We want him out there.”

Chatting with reporters at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center during Saturday’s PiratesFest, Cruz joked about getting comfortable sliding again.

In December, manager Derek Shelton confirmed Cruz was participating in instructional league games in his native Dominican Republic.

While not partaking in Dominican Winter League games, Cruz was able to test his ankle and get some swings in.

While all of spring training is still ahead, Cruz has his eye on April 5, the Pirates’ home opener, when he’ll play a game at PNC Park for the first time in nearly a year.

“Especially after not being able to step on that field for a year, it’s going to feel really good,” he said, “just to wear that uniform and be on that field that first day.”