Now a locked-in CF, Cruz looks to build on early success

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Before Oneil Cruz headed to Pirate City for Spring Training, his 6-year-old son, Oneil, asked if his dad was going to play shortstop anymore. Cruz said no, he’s a center fielder now.

“Ok, I think I better move to the outfield, also,” the younger Oneil said. “I want to become an outfielder, like you.”

“That's when I realized, even my kid is thinking about [the] outfield,” Cruz said, via coach and interpreter Stephen Morales. “I'm fine with it. I've accepted it. It’s good.”

Baseball is a family business for the Cruzes, starting with his father, Rafael Cruz, who played Minor League ball. The elder Cruz was a shortstop, like Oneil up until August. The Pirates acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa at the Trade Deadline and they opted to slide him to shortstop and bounce Cruz to center field.

The early returns from Cruz’s few weeks in the outfield were very positive. He averaged 99.1 mph on his top 10% of throws, the highest out of any position player in baseball last season. As a shortstop, he was valued at -3 outs above average, according to Baseball Savant. In just over a month in center field, he was worth +2 OAA. What’s more impressive is that with the exception of some brief instruction in the Minor Leagues, Cruz was doing well in the field while essentially learning a new position on the fly.

“He looked pretty good for never having done it,” said Bryan Reynolds. “I think he's just gonna keep growing and keep getting better. … Baseball players figure it out and athletes figure it out. He's both.”

“He has speed, and he has a bazooka for an arm,” said Tommy Pham, the third projected starting outfielder, who played with Cruz in the Dominican Winter League this year. “I really want to see him put it together, and I’m going to be in his ear challenging him every day. One, the team needs that, and he’s going to be making us better in this process, as well.”

And while Cruz was initially disappointed by the Pirates’ decision -- a human reaction, if anything -- he bought into the change. He and outfield coach Tarrik Brock were able to make strides in their month together last year, and the two were in conversation all winter to review the work that Cruz was doing with his dad.

“The first thing I saw was when he reported, there was some gloves that were out and I saw that he had his glove tailored for him, his flash and his color, which I thought was awesome,” Brock said. “Last year, he borrowed Michael [A.] Taylor’s glove and he said during the season, ‘I can’t wait to get my own glove.’ To me, that was the acceptance. Now, he’s running with it, which is really good.”

Cruz still plans to use Taylor’s glove in games -- it is a Gold Glove, after all. It’s also not out of the realm of possibility that he could win his own Gold Glove some day. Whether it’s his exit velocities, arm strength or sprint speed, Cruz’s entire game is defined by his seemingly boundless potential. Realizing that potential is the key.

For Brock, it starts with making sure Cruz has a smile on his face in the outfield. If he’s smiling, he’s in a good spot. He also has to learn how to wash off missing a ball and not getting too high if he makes a diving catch. Consistency is key, as is shoring up the fundamentals of the position, like what bases to throw to in certain situations.

“Now is the time to grow,” Brock said. “I told him two things: In order to grow, you’ve got to grow down, to set some roots before you grow up. He really accepts that. Right now, he’s getting a lot of stuff thrown at him because he needs it but also because he can handle it.”

Brock commented that he hopes Cruz is the last starting center fielder the Pirates will have for a while. He will be the eighth different Opening Day center fielder of the last eight seasons, so some stability and leadership at a key position would go a long way towards this team reaching its potential.

Cruz is looking forward to the opportunity.

"There's challenges, but it's the same focus as when I was playing shortstop,” Cruz said. “Just continue to work hard and just be the best version of myself every day.”