"Oneil Cruz is a massive, massive human being (FanGraphs has him at 6'7″, 250 lbs). And that's partially why he didn't wind up sticking at shortstop longterm."
"Cruz moved out to center field, where he has played (mostly fine/solid) defense ever since. But from the looks of his first inning in the first game of the 2026 season, he, uh ... has some offseason rust to shake off."
"These are some brutal plays and led to a five-run first inning for the Bucs, who had to pull Paul Skenes from the game because of the 37 pitches."
"Cruz, get ready to learn DH buddy!!- Joel Embiid."
Oneil Cruz, a large player at 6'7" and 250 lbs, transitioned from shortstop to center field in August 2024. In the first game of the 2026 season, he displayed significant defensive struggles, resulting in two poor plays that contributed to a five-run first inning for the Pirates. This performance led to the early removal of pitcher Paul Skenes after 37 pitches, disappointing fans in Pittsburgh who had hoped for a better start to the season.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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