Pittsburgh Recalls No. 52 Overall Prospect Oneil Cruz
October 2, 2021 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that the No. 52 rated prospect in Minor League Baseball (MLB Pipeline), Oneil Cruz, has been recalled for tonight's game vs. Cincinnati at PNC Park. He will be the fifth active member of the Indianapolis Indians roster to make his debut in 2021 and the second this week, following RHP Roansy Contreras (PIT No. 6) on Wednesday.
Cruz, 22, was promoted to Indianapolis from Double-A Altoona on Sept. 20 and has homered in five of his six games with the Indians. Since making his Triple-A debut on Sept. 22 at Omaha, he leads all Triple-A East batters with a .524 batting average (11-for-21), five home runs, a .655 on-base percentage, 1.286 slugging percentage and 1.941 OPS. On Sept. 30, his most recent game played with Indianapolis, he became the first Indians batter since Adam Boeve in 2008 to homer in four consecutive games.
The 6-foot-7 shortstop entered the 2021 campaign rated as Pittsburgh's No. 2 prospect, 'Best Power Hitter,' 'Best Athlete' and 'Best Infield Arm' by Baseball America. He was also named with having the 'Best Arm' among all minor leaguers by MLB Pipeline. Outside of a stint on the injured list from July 6-Aug. 19, he spent the majority of the season with Altoona and hit .292 (73-for-250) with 15 doubles, five triples (T-2nd in Double-A Northeast), 12 home runs, 40 RBI, 18 stolen bases (T-9th) and an .882 OPS.
Cruz was traded to Pittsburgh from Los Angeles (NL) on July 31, 2017 with Angel German in exchange for LHP Tony Watson. He was originally signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic on July 2, 2015.
Indianapolis' first-time callups are presented by Franciscan Health.
International League Stories from October 2, 2021
- Storm Chasers Win Third Straight Game Behind Pair of Three-Run Homers - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Bulls Clinch Final Stretch Title with Dramatic 5-3 Win over Tides - Durham Bulls
- I-Cubs Drop Third Straight to Storm Chasers - Iowa Cubs
- Bisons Win Again, But 'Final Stretch' Goes to Durham - Buffalo Bisons
- Late Home Run Defeats Norfolk, Durham Wins Championship - Norfolk Tides
- Gossett Shines, WooSox Victorious Again over IronPigs - Worcester Red Sox
- Gossett shines as Pigs drop eighth straight - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Okey Double Pulls Bats Close, But Clips Sail Away Late - Louisville Bats
- Gwinnett Outduels Jacksonville In, 2-1, Win Saturday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Indians and Sounds Saturday Night Matchup Canceled - Indianapolis Indians
- Bats Get Quick Start in RailRiders Win - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Wings Fall 5-2 Saturday Night - Rochester Red Wings
- Saints Furious Rally in Ninth Not Enough in 8-5 Loss - St. Paul Saints
- Sounds, Indians Canceled in Indy - Nashville Sounds
- Red Wings Announce 2021 Team Awards - Rochester Red Wings
- Knights & Redbirds Cancelled on Saturday - Charlotte Knights
- Saturday's Redbirds Game Cancelled Due to Weather - Memphis Redbirds
- October 2 Game Notes: Iowa vs. Omaha - Iowa Cubs
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (61-66) vs. Nashville Sounds (69-58) - Indianapolis Indians
- Pittsburgh Recalls No. 52 Overall Prospect Oneil Cruz - Indianapolis Indians
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Memphis Redbirds Game Notes: October 2, 2021 - Memphis Redbirds
- Jumbo Shrimp Alumnus Lee Makes Major League Debut - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Storm Chasers Tie Modern Franchise Record with Seven Home Runs in Blowout Win over I-Cubs - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Iowa's Losing Streak Slides to Six in Blowout Loss - Iowa Cubs
- Inaugural Polar Park Pumpkin Patch Opens Monday to Celebrate October Baseball - Worcester Red Sox
- Winckowski Dazzles Again, WooSox Win Third Straight over IronPigs - Worcester Red Sox
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
