The Pittsburgh Pirates are cruising with a solid 6-1 lead over the Cincinnati Reds as we head into the bottom of the seventh inning. But while the scoreline is comforting, it’s also masking some defensive hiccups from Oneil Cruz in the outfield.
During the bottom of the third, Reds third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes lofted a fly ball to left-center field. It had "routine catch" written all over it.
Yet, a near collision between Cruz and left fielder Bryan Reynolds resulted in the ball dropping harmlessly to the ground. This miscue allowed Noelvi Marte to cross home plate, putting the Reds on the board.
Cruz, now 27, has had his share of viral moments this season-though not the kind you’d want. His outfield play has been under the microscope since Opening Day, with issues ranging from arm strength to dealing with the sun. It’s clear that his defensive game needs some tightening up.
Pirates manager Don Kelly might have to consider repositioning Cruz or even shifting him to a designated hitter role if these struggles persist. The silver lining?
Lord help me. pic.twitter.com/3qxW87Sm1I
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 31, 2026
Cruz is a force at the plate. His performance against the Reds, with two hits, a home run, an RBI, and two runs through seven innings, underscores why Pittsburgh values his bat in the lineup.
As the season progresses, the hope is that Cruz can iron out these defensive wrinkles. That would certainly be a win-win for the Pirates, keeping his offensive prowess in play while shoring up the outfield.