The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense is expected to be significantly better during the 2026 season.
Right in the middle of the Pirates’ projected 2026 lineup is outfielder Oneil Cruz, who led the team with 20 home runs and 38 stolen bases during the 2025 campaign.
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Cruz, who recently decided to join the Dominican Republic’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, was also ranked as baseball’s 10th-best centerfielder on MLB Network’s annual list of the “Top 10 Players Right Now.”
The rankings are compiled “based on past performance, various offensive and defensive metrics (including both advanced statistics and traditional numbers) and analysis by the MLB Network research team,” according to MLB.com’s Brian Murphy.
Pittsburgh’s 27-year-old speedster is ranked behind (in order from one to nine): Seattle Mariners three-time All-Star Julio Rodriguez, Texas Rangers youngster Wyatt Langford, Minnesota Twins All-Star and Silver Slugger award winner Byron Buxton, San Diego Padres 2024 Rookie of the Year runner-up Jackson Merrill, Chicago Cubs All-Star and Gold Glove award winner Pete Crow-Armstrong, Los Angeles Dodgers two-time World Series champion Andy Pages, New York Yankees two-time Gold Glove award winner Trent Grisham, Toronto Blue Jays 2024 Gold Glove winner Daulton Varsho and Cincinnati Reds veteran TJ Friedl.
More MLB: Pirates Farm System Scores Highly In Keith Law’s 2026 Rankings
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