Pirates Activate Oneil Cruz From 60-Day IL
MLB Trade Rumors • • sports
Key Points:
- The Pittsburgh Pirates have activated center fielder Oneil Cruz from the 60-day injured list and reinstated pitcher Yohan Ramirez from the paternity list, while optioning Hunter Barco and Ronny Simon to Triple-A.
- Cruz, sidelined since early June due to fractures in his left hand, will require a 40-man roster move to officially join the team, as he recovers from injury sustained during a play at the plate.
- Before his injury, Cruz showed significant offensive improvement, slashing .271/.358/.492 with 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 268 plate appearances, despite a high strikeout rate of 34.6%.
- Cruz’s elite power-hitting metrics, including a 96 mph average exit velocity and a 59.2% hard-hit rate, have contributed to a strong .320 batting average on balls in play over his major league career.
- His return is expected to bolster a Pirates lineup that has struggled with injuries to key players like Ryan O’Hearn, Konnor Griffin, and Endy Rodríguez, relying heavily on contributions from rookies and veterans.
