Oneil Cruz makes early impact at leadoff spot, providing short-term salve to Pirates' problem

Derek Shelton had shuffled seven players through the leadoff spot with little luck, so the Pittsburgh Pirates manager tried putting the player with the most dangerous bat at the top of the lineup for a spark.

It turned out to be a lightning bolt.

When Oneil Cruz connected for a lineout to shortstop that was clocked at 115.3 mph, it was a good indicator. After Cruz delivered a double and a single in his next two times up, Shelton realized he might have found a short-term solution to the long-term leadoff dilemma.

“I think there is a chance that we’ll run him out there for a bit,” Shelton said, “and see how it works.”

Cruz hit the first leadoff home run of his career Thursday, a 442-shot to right-center that provided the lone run in a 1-0 win over the Nationals. He did it again Friday night, with a 369-foot line drive down the left field line against the Cleveland Guardians to become the first Pirate to hit leadoff homers in back-to-back games since Andrew McCutchen accomplished the feat against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 22-23, 2024.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pounder, who switched from shortstop to center field late last August, said he hasn’t made any adjustments to batting first.

“Definitely nothing changes, being a leadoff guy or hitting down in the order,” Cruz said through interpreter Stephen Morales. “It’s just a matter of looking for good pitches and putting good swings on the ball in the zone that I know I can make damage.”

Of course, Cruz has proven he can do damage lower in the order. With the Nationals starting lefty Mitchell Parker on Wednesday, Cruz batted cleanup and went 2 for 4 with his first career grand slam in the seventh inning of the 6-1 win.

Whether the Pirates used veterans Tommy Pham, Adam Frazier and Ke’Bryan Hayes or younger players like Ji Hwan Bae, Jack Suwinski and Enmanuel Valdez in the leadoff spot, the results were awful: a combined .120/.233/.187 slash line with two doubles, one homer, five RBIs and 27 strikeouts against nine walks through the first 19 games.

“I’ve tried a bunch of different people there. I’ve talked to a bunch of different people. Some people had strong thoughts on him going there,” Shelton said. “He’s done it before, just trying to find what works.”

Cruz entered Thursday with a .259/.317/.473 slash line with 11 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 53 career games batting leadoff, 32 of which came during his rookie season in 2022. He profiles more as a middle-of-the-order bat, given his 21 homers and 76 RBIs last season and 51.4% hard-hit rate this year. But his 14.9% walk rate ranks in the 89th percentile, per Statcast, and his nine stolen bases lead the majors this season.

Shelton also suggested that batting in front of two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds could give Cruz a better pitch selection and provide a powerful one-two punch at the top of the order. There’s still an opportunity to drive in runs, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa batting .270 in the ninth spot.

“The fact that his ability, his athleticism, in front of Bryan and being able to run — I mean, what’s he got, nine steals already? — so that could be helpful,” Shelton said. “Just in totality, we have to get our offense going. We have to get the middle going. Izzy has done a nice job at the bottom, so anything to spark it right now is what we are looking for.”

Cruz has seven strikeouts in 11 at-bats at leadoff, and his 33% whiff rate and 28.4% strikeout rate are cause for concern. But Cruz is receptive to the idea of batting before Reynolds instead of behind him, knowing opponents can’t pitch around him in the three-hole.

“It feels good to hit in front of Reynolds because he’s a unique hitter, and I’m going to get my pitches because they don’t want to throw to him, either,” Cruz said. “I feel pretty good hitting before Reynolds.”

Then again, Cruz said he doesn’t have a preference in the batting order.

“I can hit at the bottom of the lineup if they want me to,” Cruz said. “If I’m in the lineup, I’m good.”