Pirates’ Oneil Cruz Transforms Weakness into Superpower
Oneil Cruz, the talented center fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has made significant strides against left-handed pitching this season. After a challenging 2022, where he batted a mere .102 against southpaws, Cruz is now thriving at the plate.
Transforming Weakness into a Superpower
In the early part of the 2023 season, Cruz has turned his previous struggles into strength. Currently, he boasts a .636 batting average against left-handed pitchers, hitting 7 for 11, with three home runs and six RBIs across just nine games.
Offseason Work Leading to Success
Cruz attributes his improvement to a focused offseason. He hired a left-handed batting practice partner in the Dominican Republic, allowing him to refine his swing. His hard work is evident, as reflected in his comments: “The work I did during the offseason is showing up.”
- 2022 Performance Against Lefties: 11 hits in 108 at-bats (.102), 1 home run, 8 RBIs
- 2023 Performance (as of early April): 7 hits in 11 at-bats (.636), 3 home runs, 6 RBIs
Recent Games Highlighting His Transformation
Cruz’s hot streak began in Cincinnati, where he hit a solo home run measuring 444 feet. In subsequent games, he has consistently demonstrated his new approach, opting for hits through the middle of the field rather than trying to pull pitches.
Pirates manager Don Kelly noted this shift in Cruz’s strategy: “He’s staying through the middle of the field, not trying to do damage to the pull-side.” This approach has led to more productive at-bats for Cruz.
A Balanced Approach
While Cruz excels against left-handers, he finds himself struggling against right-handers with a batting average of .167. However, he acknowledges the importance of maintaining focus throughout the season, having experienced fluctuations in his performance previously.
A Stronger Lineup
This season, Cruz benefits from a deeper lineup due to the addition of All-Stars like Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna. Their presence allows him to see more favorable pitches. Cruz believes that when the team is hitting well collectively, they become considerably more dangerous.
Impactful Performance
In a standout game against the Baltimore Orioles, Cruz went 2 for 4, driving in three runs and scoring twice. His performance was characterized by an impressive comebacker with an exit velocity of 111.8 mph and a home run that left the park at 107.2 mph.
His teammate Ryan O’Hearn praised Cruz, stating, “He’s just one of those guys, man. He does stuff that nobody else does.” This transformation from weakness into a superpower places Cruz among the most exciting players to watch this season.
