Oneil Cruz is one of the most physically gifted players in baseball. Few can throw harder, hit a baseball farther or run faster than the Pittsburgh Pirates’ towering center fielder.
After five Major League seasons, however, Cruz is still trying to put it all together. He’s shown flashes of greatness, but consistency has eluded him.
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That was certainly true last year, when Cruz faded after a hot start. In 110 games from April 27 onward, he batted just .184/.280/.333 with 12 homers, 45 RBI and 146 strikeouts.
That’s not good enough, and Cruz knows it. He’s been working hard since last season ended to bounce back and finally unlock his potential in 2026.
According to Colin Beazley of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the 27-year-old outfielder hired a left-handed pitcher to help him hit southpaws better and worked with four-time Gold Glove winner Kevin Kiermaier on improving his defense.
So far, Cruz’s offseason work appears to be paying off. He’s been crushing the ball in spring training, slashing .538/.600/.846 with two extra-base hits, five runs and three stolen bases in five games entering Friday.
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Sustaining those improvements for an entire season will be key, but 2026 is already off to a promising start for Cruz. If he keeps it up, this could be the year he finally becomes an All-Star and lives up to the hype.
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