When Derek Shelton was asked at PiratesFest whether Oneil Cruz would be eased back into the starting lineup or serve as the everyday shortstop, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager gave a roundabout response.
Shelton shared that the daily highlight of his offseason came around 1 p.m., when he received an email with video of Cruz’s workouts in the Dominican Republic.
“It put a smile on my face, No. 1, because of the way he’s moving and, No. 2, because there was a smile on Oneil’s face,” Shelton said. “If you spend any time around Oneil, that smile is infectious.”
That smile was missing for the majority of last season, when Cruz was lost to a fractured left ankle in an awkward slide into home plate against the Chicago White Sox during the opening homestand in April.
After Cruz underwent surgery, there was concern about whether the injury would affect the lateral movement of the 25-year-old shortstop. At 6-foot-7, Cruz already was an anomaly at his position but had rejected any suggestion that he switch positions. After committing 17 errors in 678 innings over 79 games there in 2022, Cruz still has plenty to prove.
Shelton did his best to quell any questions about where Cruz would play.
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“We expect him to be at shortstop,” Shelton said last month during the “Ask Pirates Management” Q&A session at David L. Lawrence Convention Center. “We expect him to be healthy. The easing in part comes with how he is in spring training and where he’s at. But we expect him to play, and we expect him to get volume. He’s healthy, he’s moving around and that’s a really encouraging sign for everybody that’s a Pirates fan.”
What would be even more encouraging is if Cruz can put an end to the revolving door at his position. In PNC Park’s first 18 seasons, the Pirates had a shortstop start 100 games or more 15 times. Jack Wilson did so in seven consecutive seasons from 2001-07, averaging 137 starts. Ronny Cedeno did so in back-to-back seasons in 2010-11, followed by Clint Barmes in 2012. Jordy Mercer did so for five consecutive seasons from 2014-18, averaging 121 starts.
Since 2019, however, only Kevin Newman has started 100 games in a season at shortstop, when he made 123 starts in 2021. The Pirates have started 16 players at the position, including eight last season. Of those, Tucupita Marcano (44 starts) and Rodolfo Castro (26) are no longer with the Pirates, and Chris Owings (seven) is a free agent.
After slashing .233/.294/.450 with 13 doubles, 17 home runs and 54 RBIs despite 126 strikeouts in 87 games as a rookie in 2022, Cruz got off to a good start last year. He batted .250 with a .375 on-base percentage and almost as many walks (seven) as strikeouts (eight) in nine games before suffering the season-ending injury.
A five-tool player with bat speed and arm strength that broke Statcast records, Cruz has the potential to become the first Pirates shortstop since Wilson in 2004 to be selected an All-Star. And he’s not shy about setting lofty goals. Last year, he talked about joining the 40-40 club for home runs and stolen bases.
“I’m going to set my bar high from last year and do things I can’t even imagine right now,” Cruz said through translator Stephen Morales in September. “I’m going to be in a good spot mentally and physically, and it’s going to be a special year.”
Cruz already passed one of the most important tests — how to slide again — during his rehabilitation: “I took that out of my checklist,” he said, “and I think I’m good now.”
Where the Pirates appear to be better is in the depth at the position. Liover Peguero and Alika Williams both started 33 games at shortstop last season, and Nick Gonzales started seven and Ji Hwan Bae three. All four are expected to compete for the starting job at second base but are capable of playing on either side of the bag.
Make no mistake. The starting job at shortstop belongs to Cruz, as long as he can stay healthy. Cruz plans to be ready for the start of spring training and his long-awaited return to playing his position.
“Especially after not being able to step on that field for a year,” Cruz said at PiratesFest, “it’s going to feel really good just to wear that uniform and be on that field that first day.”
