The Pittsburgh Pirates will get a full season of Oneil Cruz at center field.
Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz is beginning the season as a center fielder for the first time.
The 26-year-old started at shortstop last year, but after defensive struggles at the position, the Pirates opted to move him to center field instead.
Bleacher Report writer Zachary D. Rymer believes Cruz has staying power in center field.
Why Is This Happening?
OK, fine. You got me. This is not a new transition, as the Pirates first moved Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field last fall.
Cruz, 26, didn’t give the Bucs much choice by way of 24 errors in 958.1 innings at short in 2024. He has always had the athleticism and arm strength to play in the middle of the outfield, though he has more offensive upside than the standard center fielder.
Will It Work?
There were, in manager Derek Shelton’s words, “bumps in the road” for Cruz in center field last September. Suffice it to say you could tell it was not his natural position.
Despite that, you may be surprised to hear he had more Outs Above Average (two) as a center fielder than he did as a shortstop (minus-three). You can thus see why the Bucs were bullish about the experiment coming into spring training.
Cruz’s power and speed give him at least 20-20 upside offensively. And whereas he was one of eight shortstops to actually hit those figures in 2024, he would have been one of merely six center fielders to do so.
If Cruz can find a way to make it work, the Pirates could be making some noise deep into the season.
BD community, what do you think of Cruz in center field? Chime off in the comments section below.