Oneil Cruz Stats

Oneil Cruz: A Rising Star in the MLB

A Comprehensive Guide to the Pittsburgh Pirates Shortstop

Stats and Highlights

* Ranked first among all National League rookies in home runs (17) and RBI (54) in 2022. * Second in slugging (.450) and OPS (.744) among NL rookies in 2022. * Hit 34 extra-base hits and accumulated 171 total bases as a rookie in 2022.

Background and Personal Life

* Born on October 4, 1998, in the Dominican Republic. * Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent in 2015.

Position and Career

* Plays shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. * Made his MLB debut in 2021. * Appeared in 87 games in 2022, batting .234 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI.

Strengths and Potential

* Possesses a powerful bat with the potential to be a consistent power hitter. * Strong arm and good range at shortstop. * Has shown improvement in his plate discipline and strikeout rate.

Challenges and Opportunities

* Needs to improve his consistency at the plate and reduce his strikeouts. * Will face competition for playing time at shortstop with the addition of Rodolfo Castro to the Pirates' roster. * Has the opportunity to become a key contributor to a young and promising Pirates team.

Impact on the Pirates

* Cruz's power and athleticism have energized the Pirates' offense. * His growth and development will be crucial to the Pirates' long-term success.

Sources

* [ESPN Player Profile](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39686/oneil-cruz) * [Baseball Reference Player Page](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cruz001one.shtml) * [MLB.com Player Profile](https://www.mlb.com/player/oneil-cruz-665677)