Oneil Cruz -- General News

The Pirates announced they are transitioning Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field, a move supported by management and the player himself. The change mirrors Fernando Tatis Jr.'s successful shift with the Padres, and Cruz indicated he plans to seek advice from Tatis. Cruz possesses two elite defensive tools that support the transition: exceptional arm strength and above-average speed. His throws average 95.6 mph in the top 5%, ranking 6th among MLB position players and comparing favorably to center fielders—only Brenton Doyle (97.7 mph) and Colton Cowser (95.9 mph) surpass him. Outfielders can better utilize arm strength through running starts and momentum that infielders lack. Cruz's sprint speed of 28.7 feet per second places him in the 86th percentile league-wide, a valuable asset for center field positioning. However, one potential limitation is his initial burst, taking an average 0.55 seconds to cover the first five feet, which is below league average. Manager Derek Shelton acknowledged the arm strength advantage while noting they may occasionally need to restrain Cruz's throwing instincts.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes came within 2 2/3 innings of recording his first no-hitter in a game against the Colorado Rockies. Through 6 1/3 innings, Skenes had struck out 10 batters with no hits allowed. In the seventh inning, Mickey Moniak broke up the no-hit bid with a hit to left-center field that center fielder O'Neil Cruz narrowly missed. Despite losing the no-hitter, Skenes still delivered an exceptional performance, pitching eight full innings while allowing just two hits and zero runs with 10 strikeouts. He recorded only three baserunners on the night, including one hit-by-pitch.

Cruz, who contributed offensively with three hits and two runs scored, joked about his unsuccessful catch attempt, saying he ran harder for that play than he would run after his own children. Defensively, the center fielder made several crucial plays that preserved the shutout, including a late-inning catch that prevented a potential Colorado run.

Skenes continues to establish himself as the league's premier pitcher this season. His ERA remains below 2.00 with an impressive 0.64 WHIP, and he maintained his streak of games without allowing a walk. The reigning NL Cy Young winner's combination of velocity, pitch arsenal, and command has made him the most difficult pitcher to face in the majors to date.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have repositioned Oneil Cruz to designated hitter for the first time in the 2026 season as they face the Arizona Diamondbacks in a crucial series finale on May 7. Cruz maintains his leadoff spot while surrendering center field duties to Jake Mangum, allowing him to focus exclusively on hitting production. This move comes as the Pirates' offense has stalled, scoring only 2 runs in their last 3 games.

Cruz enters the game with solid overall production: a .250/.306/.473 slash line for a .779 OPS, 37 hits, 9 home runs (tied for team lead), 28 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts. However, he has struggled significantly against Arizona, registering no hits in 8 at-bats with 2 strikeouts. The Pirates recently swept the Cincinnati Reds, with Cruz contributing 5 hits in 15 at-bats and 2 RBI during that series.

The Pirates lineup against Diamondbacks right-handed starter Zac Gallen features five consecutive left-handed batters at the top: Cruz (DH), Brandon Lowe (2B), Bryan Reynolds (LF), Ryan O'Hearn (RF), and Spencer Horwitz (1B). This strategic alignment aims to exploit matchup advantages while providing the offensive spark needed to win the series.