Oneil, meet O'Neill: Pirates star, namesake Yankee meet at last

NEW YORK -- Oneil, meet O’Neill.

On Saturday, Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz met his namesake, former Yankees outfielder and current broadcaster Paul O'Neill. The two had a video chat and O’Neill sent over a jersey the last time the Pirates played in Yankee Stadium in 2022, but this time, they got to meet in person at Yankee Stadium.

“When you hear these stories about Yankees fans naming their children, it’s quite an honor, really,” O’Neill said. “I saw he was born in 1998. It was a wonderful year for us [a World Series victory]. I must have had a good game. It could have been Tino [Martinez] or [Derek] Jeter or anyone.”

Not likely. Cruz’s father, Rafael -- a Minor League infielder in his day -- was an O’Neill fan, and he told his son stories about the Yankees’ outfielder his whole life.

“Very excited to just finally meet him,” Cruz said, via interpreter and Pirates coach Stephen Morales. “We had a phone conversation not that long ago about that. … It’s my pleasure to finally meet him.”

“He’s not a little guy,” O’Neill said. “I’m pretty impressed with the way he looks, and obviously he’s got a bright future.”