The Pirates opened their fan appreciation weekend celebration Friday with one of the most entertaining games of the season. Now, they’re expected to throw another bone to those attending games the next two days at PNC Park.
Multiple sources told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette late Friday that the club intends to promote Oneil Cruz, one of their top prospects who will be making his MLB debut.
Cruz did not play in Friday’s game for Class AAA Indianapolis. In his first six games at Class AAA, Cruz had gone absolutely bonkers, the 6-foot-7 shortstop hitting .524 (11 for 21) with a double, five home runs, seven RBIs, 11 runs scored and eight walks.
“That guy’s a monster, man,” Cal Mitchell said of Cruz, who became the first Indians batter to go deep in four straight games since Adam Boeve did it May 27-30, 2008. “I always make this joke whenever anyone says, ‘That’s crazy!’ I say, ‘Yeah, that’s what happens when Kevin Durant was born in the Dominican and decided to be a baseball player. He’s so long and so fast. It’s amazing to watch.”
The Pirates actually promoting Cruz is somewhat ironic after what transpired earlier in the day.
Cruz was scheduled to speak on a Zoom call from Victory Field but was “unavailable,” according to an Indians team spokesperson.
As news of this came out, manager Derek Shelton was asked if the Pirates might have a roster move before Friday’s game.
“I think we can expect that there will be a [roster] move before today’s game,” Shelton said. “We’re working through that right now.”
At that point, #CruzWatch officially commenced, although it turned out to be much ado about nothing; the move Shelton was referencing was actually Shea Spitzbarth, not Cruz.
A couple hours later, things have cleared changed.
The appetite to see Cruz is certainly understandable. His rocket shots are regular parts of Pirates Twitter, his opposite-field power and the ease with which the ball carries off his bat easily noticeable.
Promoting Cruz will undoubtedly be received positively by the fan base, which had some extra energy Friday. Cruz is freakishly large and has a rocket for an arm. If he continues to produce, too, who knows whether he might do enough to accelerate his timeline for 2022.
“Oneil Cruz, man, special talent,” Canaan Smith-Njigba said. “It’s fun watching someone who can come up and do the things that he does so easily. He’s having fun. He’s putting on a show. Not just for the fans but for his teammates as well.”
Cruz doing what he has for Class AAA Indianapolis obviously isn’t new, either. The 22-year-old spent the majority of the season with the Curve and hit .292 with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and 40 RBIs before he was promoted on Sept. 20.
Regardless of level, Cruz has consistently been appointment viewing, for his easy swing and how far the home runs travel, routinely 400-plus feet.
Attend a game in which Cruz is playing, and he’s routinely joking around with teammates. He’s shy with media and hates drawing attention to himself, but he’s also an incredible teammate and friend, those guys will tell you.
“He’s my favorite player,’ Rodolfo Castro said, with Indians coach Gustavo Omana translating. “I’m going to follow him all the time. I’m very happy to see him and watch how he plays, how he does everything.”
Mitchell has played with Cruz since Low-A ball, and they’ve been together this whole season, with Altoona and Indianapolis. Mitchell has been able to sense that Cruz is often shy with people he doesn’t know but has also really grown to like him as a teammate.
He also doesn’t seem to mind watching him hit 450-foot home runs.
“He’s always been super sweet and so nice to everybody,” Mitchell said. “Super unproblematic, respectful and fun with his teammates.”
Added Smith-Njigba. “He’s gonna make a lot of money in this game. He’s a great teammate, a great guy. He makes this game look easy.”
Around the horn
As for the Pirates’ daily roster move: They recalled Spitzbarth from Class AAA Indianapolis and optioned Miguel Yajure back to the minors.
This will be Spitzbarth’s four stint with the Pirates in 2021, during which he’s allowed four hits and two runs in 4.0 innings. In 42 relief appearances with Class AAA Indianapolis, Spitzbarth went 3-3 with two saves and a 2.12 ERA.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: October 1, 2021, 10:39 p.m.
Updated: October 1, 2021, 10:39 p.m.
