Pirates Place Oneil Cruz On Injured List
MLB Trade Rumors • • sports
Key Points:
- The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed outfielder Oneil Cruz on the 10-day injured list retroactive to June 8th due to non-displaced fractures in his left hand's fourth and fifth metacarpals, with an expected absence of about a month.
- Cruz sustained the injury while attempting to score from first base on a double and has not started since, though he appeared as a pinch runner; further testing confirmed the fractures after he was scratched from a recent lineup due to discomfort.
- Despite some defensive flaws, Cruz is a key player for the Pirates, boasting 14 home runs, 21 stolen bases, a .264/.350/.472 batting line, and a 128 wRC+ this season, contributing 1.7 wins above replacement.
- The Pirates are also dealing with injuries to Konnor Griffin and Joey Bart, coinciding with a recent four-game losing streak that has dropped their record to 34-33 and just outside playoff contention.
- Jake Mangum is expected to fill in as the everyday center fielder during Cruz’s absence; while Mangum is a strong defender, his offensive production (.293/.332/.359 career line and 94 wRC+) is notably lower than Cruz’s.