The door is open for Oneil Cruz. Now, he just has to duck his 6-foot-7 frame and enter.
Assuming, of course, the Pirates allow him to do that, which doesn’t sound like a guarantee.
Shortstop became the Pirates’ latest focal point after Kevin Newman landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left groin strain. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said they expect Newman to miss 3-5 weeks.
Newman was injured Tuesday during Pittsburgh’s 12-8 loss to the Brewers at PNC Park, and it was more than a re-aggravation of the groin issue that kept Newman out of a few earlier games.
The injury doesn’t come at a great time for Newman personally. After a slow start at the plate, he had multiple hits in back-to-back games and seemingly found some traction. Now, the only thing he’ll hit is pause.
“He had good at-bats [Tuesday] night,” manager Derek Shelton said of Newman, who was hitting .250 with a .683 OPS through 14 games. “Kind of felt like he was finding his groove offensively. Any time you lose someone who plays a lot of innings for you, it’s unfortunate.”
So, now what?
Diego Castillo played shortstop Wednesday. Beyond that, it’s unclear.
Cole Tucker could, but he’s on the COVID-19 injured list. He’s also hitting .171, has yet to draw a walk and is slugging just .220. Tucupita Marcano, recalled Tuesday when Tucker and Bryan Reynolds went on the COVID IL, could be another option among players currently on the 28-man roster.
Shelton said he would even be comfortable with Ke’Bryan Hayes playing shortstop, though not regularly.
“We may see him there for a game or two,” Shelton said.
The hope, of course, is that it’s Cruz’s time to shine. That the Pirates will promote him, now that they’ve preserved a year of team control on the back end of his contract, and give him some regular playing time at shortstop.
They still might, but Shelton was very much noncommittal on that idea pregame. It’s also true that Cruz went 0 for 4 Wednesday and is hitting .190 on the season with a .588 OPS — hardly head-turning numbers.
Cruz did, however, hit a mammoth, walk-off home run Sunday that reminded everyone of his prodigious power.
“There’s been progress,” Shelton said. “And there’s still work to be done. We’re focusing on what that work is.”
As for whether Cruz would be given a shot to take over at shortstop, Shelton was similarly tight-lipped.
“Everybody in our system who’s on the roster at the upper levels will be given consideration,” Shelton said. “I don’t think right now we’ve made a decision yet.”
Other updates
Tomczyk met with the media Wednesday for his weekly session and updated the statuses of several players:
• Anthony Banda (viral illness) resumed playing catch on Wednesday and is expected to miss the minimum amount of time, meaning he should be back early next week.
• Max Kranick (right forearm strain) is scheduled to make another rehab start Thursday and go three-plus innings.
• Duane Underwood Jr. (right hamstring strain) should begin a minor league rehab assignment in the coming days.
• Brennan Malone, whose spring buildup was delayed by an undisclosed illness, has progressed from bullpens into live batting practice.
• Quinn Priester (oblique) is throwing at 120 feet, and the Pirates envision him throwing off a mound in the next 7-10 days.
Greg Allen arrives
The Pirates have an eager guest running around PNC Park this week in Greg Allen, who’s on the 60-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
In something suggested by head major league strength and conditioning coach Terence Brannic, Allen has shifted his rehab — if only for a couple days — to Pittsburgh from Bradenton.
It’s similar to what the Pirates did last year with Steven Brault, allowing the player to see teammates and also work out in front of the strength and conditioning staff. Allen is hitting some and met with hitting coach Andy Haines. He also ran for Brannic and assistant major league strength and conditioning coach Adam Vish.
Allen remains on target to return around the four-to-six-week mark of the season, Tomczyk said.
“It’s nice to have him around,” Shelton said. “If you spend any time around Greg Allen, he’s a really good kid. Being around the club is important for him. He’s gonna be an important part of our club when he gets healthy.”
Around the horn
Reynolds spent just one day on the COVID IL. He started in center and hit second on Wednesday … According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Dillon Peters’ stretch of 21 at-bats without a hit allowed was the longest for a Pirates reliever to start the season since 1945.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: April 27, 2022, 2:49 p.m.
