Pirates option top prospect Oneil Cruz to Triple-A Indianapolis in latest round of spring cuts

Oneil Cruz won’t be on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day roster.

The Pirates optioned the 6-foot-7 shortstop, ranked their top prospect by Baseball America, to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday afternoon.

Cruz batted .333 (5 for 15) with a 1.066 OPS in five Grapefruit League games this spring, hitting two home runs, driving in three runs and scoring four while striking out three times and drawing no walks. Cruz hit a 413-foot homer in his first game this spring, against the New York Yankees.

HOW DID ONEIL CRUZ DO THAT?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/U0fA6h1ws6

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 19, 2022

After starting the spring playing shortstop, Cruz started in left field last week. The Pirates are considering using Cruz in the corner outfield spots to get him more playing time as he’s behind Gold Glove finalist Kevin Newman at shortstop. Cruz also has only 310 at bats above the Class A level, and has never played the outfield in a regular season game.

After slashing .292/.346/.536 with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and 40 RBIs in 63 games at Double-A Altoona and hitting .524 (11 for 21) with five home runs in six games at Indianapolis last season, Cruz made his major league debut for the Pirates in their final two games last October. Cruz recorded the Pirates’ hardest hit in the Statcast era with his first MLB hit, with an exit velocity of 118.2 mph. Cruz homered in the ninth inning of the season finale.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton told the Tribune-Review on Sunday that the coaching staff was having daily discussions over what to do with Cruz, who went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 7-4 loss to the New York Yankees.

“We have to play what’s best for Oneil and we have to play what’s best for the Pirates,” Shelton said. “Oneil has come up and had a good spring. Where we have to be cautious is that he’s played 60-some games at Double-A and six at Triple-A. We have to be very mindful of how his development is going to be moving forward, how it’s going to fit in with the Pirates not only this year but moving forward. First and foremost, we’ve got to put Oneil in the best position to succeed.”