Kevin Gorman: Making the majors a tall order for Pirates shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz
BRADENTON, Fla. – Things are looking up at shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as top prospect Oneil Cruz is officially listed at 6-foot-7 after being measured at his physical exam.
Cruz is the tallest position player at the major-league camp in spring training at Pirate City, and hopes to become the tallest shortstop in baseball someday soon.
“It feels great,” Cruz said Saturday through team interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “It’s an honor and a blessing to be here. I’m really excited. I had a great time last year being able to show a little bit of what I have.”
The 21-year-old Dominican certainly made a big first impression when he walked into Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s office last week.
“Wow, that is a large, large man,” Shelton said on Saturday. “I’m excited. I got to see him take ground balls. I got to see him swing the bat a little bit. I’ve had multiple players tell me about him swinging the bat. It’s good to see your prospects when they’re out on the field.”
Cruz can’t wait until Shelton can see him at PNC Park.
1. On the rise: Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tony Watson trade in July 2017, Cruz has risen through the ranks since being regarded as the Dodgers’ No. 17 prospect.
The left-handed hitting Cruz split last season between high-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona, playing 35 games for each team. For the Marauders, he slashed .301/.345/.515 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs. For the Curve, he had a .269/.346/.412 slash line with one homer and 17 RBIs.
Cruz played in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted only .190 in 14 games. He spent the rest of the offseason in strength training, adding between 5-10 pounds to his frame. “I focused a lot on hitting the weights and gaining a little more weight,” Cruz said, “and really a lot on my preparation so I can have a more lasting season.”
2. Too tall for short? Where Cal Ripken once was an outlier, a giant at 6-foot-4 compared to smaller and more spry players at his position, taller shortstops are now the norm.
“For me, it’s the funnest and best position in baseball,” Cruz said. “I’ve always seen it like that since I was a child, mostly since there was so much action going on, constantly moving around, so I enjoy it a lot.”
Cruz is hardly alone, as Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Fernando Tatis all are about 6-4 and still shining at shortstop.
Former Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer stands 6-3 but Cruz still owns a four-inch height advantage. That could become a disadvantage because of his long levers and the nimbleness required to turn double plays.
“It’s possible and, from what I hear, he can play there,” Shelton said. “Not having seen him, except on video a little bit take some ground balls, watching him. Anything is possible, especially if he’s as good of an athlete as they say he is.”
3. Short stay: Because of his height, Cruz often is asked about whether he will eventually be asked to move to another position, like a corner infield or outfield role.
Some scouts are suggesting that Cruz could eventually be the successor to Gregory Polanco in right field.
“No one’s directly told me, ‘Hey, we’re thinking about moving you around or trying new positions.’ I have had a few people bring it up, just here and there, but my focus is shortstop,” Cruz said. “I really don’t care to play any other position. I want to do everything possible to maintain myself right there playing shortstop.”
4. Hoop dreams: When asked if there is a stigma at shortstop for a 6-7 prospect like Cruz, Shelton shifted sports.
“The stigma is if you’re going to play the 3 or the 4,” Shelton said with a smirk. “People don’t know if you’re a shooting guard or if you’re going to play in the paint.”
Shelton noted there are big men who play the position, which is what will make this spring training so interesting. He will finally see firsthand whether Cruz belongs.
“I’ve not seen him play and I don’t know if there’s anybody that big that’s played there,” Shelton said, “but from what I hear he just continues to grow. He’s a young kid. The stigma is going to be how long he is making the turn but from what I hear he can shoot so maybe he’ll play the 2.”
Sounds more like a stretch-four.
5. Thinking big: Cruz might be ticketed for Triple-A soon, but his mind is on making it to the major leagues in 2020.
“My goal, really, is I want to make it to the big leagues this year,” Cruz said. “I want to do everything possible to make it to the big leagues this year.”
Is that possible?
“Yes,” Cruz said. “For me, there’s nothing impossible.”
Although the chances are as slim as the lean, long-limbed physique he carries on the 6-7 frame — Cruz is behind Kevin Newman, Erik Gonzalez, JT Riddle and Cole Tucker in camp — Shelton wasn’t shocked to hear that Cruz has major-league goals.
“I love that,” Shelton said. “I think guys should think that. I think guys should come into camp with that thought all the time. Everybody should. If he said that, that’s sick. I’m glad he thinks that way.”
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Kevin Gorman is a TribLive reporter covering the Pirates. A Baldwin native and Penn State graduate, he joined the Trib in 1999 and has covered high school sports, Pitt football and basketball and was a sports columnist for 10 years. He can be reached at kgorman@triblive.com.
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