The Pirates went with a different look in the outfield for the Aug. 26 finale against the Padres, and the changes were aimed at getting their best lineup on the field.
Bryan Reynolds moved into designated hitter duty, which opened up left field for Jake Mangum and brought rookie Esmerlyn Valdez back into right field. Oneil Cruz stayed put in center, where he’s been the anchor of the group since returning from a long injury absence.
Cruz is still the most obvious constant for Pittsburgh. He followed his go-ahead solo home run off Padres closer Mason Miller in the ninth inning of the Pirates’ 1-0 win on Aug. 25, and that blast came during a stretch in which he had gone 12 at-bats without a hit. Even so, his return has given the Pirates a major jolt.
After missing two months and 72 days with a left hand fracture that required a long rehab process, Cruz has come back swinging. In seven games since returning, he has three home runs, including two other two-run shots, along with an RBI single and an RBI triple. He’s hitting .217/.333/.696 with an OPS of 1.029 in that span.
His presence also gives the Pirates flexibility. Mangum can work the corner outfield spots and even handle some center field if Cruz needs a day off, especially with the lingering effects of that left hand fracture in mind.
Reynolds’ move to DH is also part of the picture, and Pittsburgh is clearly hoping it helps get him going. He’s hitting .214/.292/.303 with an OPS of .595 in the second half of 2026, and he hasn’t homered since July 28.
Valdez gave the Pirates a lift of his own. His solo homer off Padres left-hander Robbie Ray in the sixth inning broke the scoreless tie, even though Pittsburgh still needed 12 innings to finish the job. It was Valdez’s first home run since July 26, and it came against a left-handed pitcher, a matchup the Pirates have struggled with all 2026.
Even with just .177 batting average between those two home runs, Valdez has continued to show patience at the plate. His on-base percentage sits at .330, a sign he’s still finding ways to contribute against big league pitching.
The Pirates’ ideal outfield mix includes all four of these players, but for this game, the plan was Reynolds in left, Cruz in center and Valdez in right, with Mangum filling in around them.
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Pirates Prospect Is Forcing A Tough September Decision
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For the Pirates, the timing matters. Expanded rosters create room for a look, and Jebb is also edging toward Rule 5 Draft eligibility, which raises the stakes of every call the organization makes over the next few weeks. If Pittsburgh finds itself further from the playoff race, the club could lean into evaluation mode and start thinking about whether Jebb belongs on the 40-man roster or in line for a chance to help in 2027 as a versatile option. [Read more 🡒]