PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz was at all times thought-about to be a unicorn at shortstop due to his massive body. Now, that unicorn is transferring off the infield grime.
Supervisor Derek Shelton and basic supervisor Ben Cherington introduced pregame Monday that the Pirates will probably be transferring Cruz to middle subject in a transfer that seems to be fairly solidified for not simply the remainder of 2024, however future seasons.
“I believe as of proper now, we’re him as a middle fielder,” Shelton mentioned.
“We actually consider this can be a big alternative for each him and our group, each,” Cherington mentioned. “That’s our mindset. We consider that will probably be his mindset going into it.”
The transfer comes because the Pirates activated Nick Gonzales off the injured checklist Monday. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had been the first second baseman since being acquired on the Commerce Deadline, however with Gonzales again, he’ll transfer over to shortstop. Cruz was within the Pirates’ lineup because the designated hitter in Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Cubs.
Cruz has made 24 errors at shortstop — 12 fielding and 12 throwing — which is the second-most in baseball, whereas being value -3 Outs Above Common.
The trouble was actually there for Cruz, who routinely took additional infield observe and strived to come back again as a shortstop after fracturing his left ankle in April 2023. The Pirates wished him to have the chance, however after practically 5 months of regular-season play, they felt it was time to make a change.
“We need to give him an opportunity to seize as a lot upside as doable and us as a group the prospect to seize as a lot upside as doable by protecting him at a premium place for so long as doable,” Cherington mentioned. “Shortstop was the place that began. We felt coming into the yr, [we wanted to see] if he can do that. If he may be a median defender at brief and even higher than that, there may be large upside for that.
“We simply really feel like now we’ve got sufficient info to consider there’s a higher likelihood to see that occur in middle subject.”
Cruz will function the group’s designated hitter for the following few days to get some defensive work in with first-base and outfield coach Tarrik Brock. Cruz performed one inning in left subject within the Majors in 2022 and 80 innings over 10 video games with Triple-A Indianapolis that season. His solely motion in middle got here throughout two video games in Spring Coaching ‘21, and he has not appeared within the outfield in knowledgeable recreation since ‘22.
“It is one thing that is not utterly international to him, however we need to make sure that we put him in the most effective place doable,” Shelton mentioned.
The Pirates knowledgeable Cruz of their resolution on Sunday, and by Cherington’s admission, Cruz was disillusioned however skilled. There aren’t issues that he is not going to be motivated to maintain taking part in after the change.
“There’s a time to course of every little thing,” Cherington mentioned. “We simply had this dialog yesterday so I don’t suppose that point is over. It’s actually been lower than 24 hours for the reason that dialog, so I’m positive he’s nonetheless processing it. Lengthy-term, no, I’m not apprehensive about it in any respect.
“I consider he’ll see this as a extremely good problem and alternative for him. And, simply as importantly, a chance for the group. He’s bought an opportunity to essentially assist the group. I actually consider that’s how he’ll see it.”
Cruz actually wouldn’t be the primary participant to make the transfer from shortstop to middle subject. Jackson Merrill has emerged as an NL Rookie of the 12 months contender for the Padres this season after making that positional swap, and Michael A. Taylor made the same shift whereas as a prospect with the Nationals.
Cruz’s pace and arm energy may make him a very good candidate as a defender within the outfield, however it’s nonetheless fairly a change within the calculus to this season.
“We didn’t take this resolution frivolously,” Shelton mentioned. “It wasn’t one thing that we simply determined over the course of an evening we will do. We had conversations about it, however we felt that proper now middle subject was the most effective place for him.”
