{"id":290359,"date":"2026-09-20T16:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T16:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/290359\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T16:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T16:14:15","slug":"pirates-oneil-cruz-made-incredible-adjustment-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/290359\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates’ Oneil Cruz Made Incredible Adjustment This Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

PITTSBURGH \u2014 The scouting report on Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz for years was simple. The light-tower power was undeniable. The speed was game-changing<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But the swing path, timing and entire approach against left-handed pitching were a glaring flaw that threatened to cap his ceiling and stop him from reaching his potential.<\/p>\n

Cruz has shown he can have success against southpaws and he’s been the best Pirates hitter against them this season.<\/p>\n

It’s a massive improvement and one that is quite shocking, given where Cruz was at last season.<\/p>\n

Cruz’s Struggles Against LHP in 2025<\/p>\n

In 2025, left-handers exposed that flaw at a historic rate. Cruz hit .102 against southpaws, with just 11 hits in 108 at-bats, a .224 on-base percentage, and a .176 slugging percentage. He struck out 44 times in 125 plate appearances. <\/p>\n

That performance wasn\u2019t just bad for a player of his talent; it was among the worst platoon splits in baseball. For context, the league average against left-handed pitching hovered around .242, making Cruz\u2019s production roughly 58 percent below the average major leaguer.<\/p>\n

\"Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

Aug 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) throws his bat in frustration after watching a called strike three to end the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

The Pirates essentially stopped playing Cruz against lefties last season, as he was absent for the final 12 times the club faced a southpaw.<\/p>\n

It was a stark acknowledgment that the 6-foot-7 outfielder, once their most tantalizing young talent, had become a platoon liability.<\/p>\n

A Breakthrough in 2026<\/p>\n

Cruz entered the offseason with a specific goal: fix the hole. He hired a left-handed throwing<\/a> batting-practice pitcher to simulate the look he consistently failed to solve during games. It was a deliberate, targeted approach to the most glaring weakness in his offensive profile.<\/p>\n

The results in 2026 were transformative, as Cruz is hitting .322 against left-handed pitching this season, with an on-base percentage north of .400. <\/p>\n

\"Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

Sep 16, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) hits an infield single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

He\u2019s walking more, striking out less, and controlling the strike zone in ways that were previously unthinkable. <\/p>\n

The strikeout rate against lefties has dropped to around 35 percent\u2014still high, but nearly identical to his strikeout rate against right-handers, meaning pitchers no longer have a clear platoon advantage to exploit.<\/p>\n

The power hasn\u2019t necessarily shown up in home run totals against lefties. Cruz has just one home run against southpaws this season, a figure that might raise eyebrows for a player known for tape-measure shots. <\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not the point. The goal wasn\u2019t to hit for more power against lefties; it was to hit, period. And he\u2019s doing that.<\/p>\n

Against right-handers, the power remains exactly what it always was. Cruz has 18 home runs against right-handed pitching, and the exit velocities, towering drives, raw force that made him a highlight-reel staple\u2014none of that has gone anywhere. <\/p>\n

The difference is that teams can no longer neutralize him by bringing in a left-hander out of the bullpen. He\u2019s no longer a candidate to be pinch-hit for. He\u2019s no longer a hole in the lineup.<\/p>\n

Oneil Cruz and His Pirates’ Future<\/p>\n

Cruz is under contract<\/a> through 2026 at $3.3 million, and he\u2019ll be eligible for free agency in 2029. <\/p>\n

When that day comes, he\u2019ll be a 30-year-old center fielder with elite athleticism and a track record of prodigious power. <\/p>\n

\"Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

Sep 1, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) hits an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

The question teams will ask is whether he\u2019s a complete hitter or a platoon player. For years, the answer was clearly the latter. Now, that answer is changing.<\/p>\n

If Cruz continues to hit lefties at even a league-average rate, he\u2019s no longer a liability in any matchup. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s unquestionably an everyday player. That distinction matters enormously in free agency. A platoon outfielder with power but a fatal flaw against same-side pitching gets a modest multi-year deal, maybe $40-50 million. <\/p>\n

An everyday center fielder who can hit for power, get on base, and run the bases gets a contract that probably has a floor of $100 million.<\/p>\n

Cruz hasn\u2019t simply improved a statistic. He\u2019s potentially eliminated the single biggest barrier between him and a massive payday. <\/p>\n

The power was always there. The speed was always there. The defense in center field has developed. The only missing piece was the ability to hit left-handed pitching, and that piece is no longer missing.<\/p>\n

For the Pirates, that development is a gift. For Cruz, it\u2019s a career-altering adjustment. And for the rest of baseball, it\u2019s a warning: the light-tower power no longer comes with an off switch.<\/p>\n

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!<\/a><\/p>\n

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