After shattering Statcast records as rookie, Pirates SS Oneil Cruz eyes exclusive clubs

BRADENTON, Fla. — Oneil Cruz showed as a rookie that one swing can do enough damage to shatter Statcast records, so the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop shared some lofty goals for his first full year in the major leagues.

After flashing his unique blend of power and speed by hitting 17 home runs and stealing 10 bases in 87 games last season, the 6-foot-7, 220-pounder set his sights on joining some exclusive clubs.

“I’m looking for 30-30 or 40-40 this year,” Cruz said through team translator Stephen Morales on Thursday afternoon at Pirate City. “The one that is going to be under my control this year is to go play hard and put on a good show for the people who go out to Pittsburgh to see me play.”

Where 43 players have achieved a 30-30 season in major-league history, only four — Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998) and Alfonso Soriano (2006) — have accomplished a 40-40 campaign.

Given the rarity of the 40-40 accomplishment, Pirates manager Derek Shelton is reluctant to attach statistical goals to Cruz and noted his need for better control of the strike zone after a 35% strikeout rate last season.

“We’re dealing with a confident kid,” Shelton said. “There’s so many other factors that come into play that it’s not really fair, but the one thing that is encouraging is he’s going into the year with things on his mind that he wants to accomplish. To be able to accomplish those things, he has to hit some milestones.”

Based on his rookie numbers, Cruz projected to hit 30 home runs and 101 RBIs but only 18.6 steals over a full, 162-game season. He recorded an elite sprint speed of 31.5 feet per second last season, and an MLB rule change that limits pitchers to making two pick-off throws per batter should allow runners to attempt more steals.

Cruz’s power was on display from his first major-league hit in October 2021, which registered an exit velocity of 118.2 mph per Statcast, the hardest recorded hit ever by a Pirates player. Cruz broke that mark with a 118.4 mph single Aug. 4. Cruz made national headlines when his 122.4 mph single off the top of the 21-foot Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park became the hardest recorded hit since Statcast began recording exit velocity in 2015.

“I don’t pay much attention to numbers,” Cruz said. “I just try to play hard and do my best to help this team win. But I don’t pay that much attention to numbers or stuff that goes around.”

Cruz slashed .233/.294/.450 with 13 doubles, four triples, 17 homers and 54 RBIs after his late-June promotion last season, numbers boosted by a strong final month. He hit .288/.359/.525 with six doubles, two triples, six homers and 19 RBIs over the final 29 games.

“They don’t throw the ball over the plate because they know I have power and can do some damage with one swing,” Cruz said. “But I’m going to try and stay in the strike zone where I know I can do damage.”