Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced a significant change in their defensive lineup, moving Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field. The decision has received support from team manager Derek Shelton, general manager Ben Cherington, and Cruz himself.

Cruz expressed his commitment to the new role, stating through interpreter and coach Stephen Morales, "If that's the move, I'm going to try to do my best every day to become one of the best."

The transition is not unprecedented in Major League Baseball. Fernando Tatis Jr., who won the Platinum Glove Award last year, successfully made a similar switch. Cruz plans to seek advice from Tatis as he adapts to his new position.

Cruz's strengths lie in his sprint speed and arm strength. His throws this season have averaged 95.6 mph on his top five percent of throws, ranking him sixth among all position players in the league. Only Brenton Doyle of the Rockies (97.7 mph) and Colton Cowser of the Orioles (95.9 mph) surpass him among center fielders.

Manager Shelton acknowledged Cruz's powerful arm as an asset but noted that there would be times when it might need to be restrained: "There will be times where we will probably try to bring it back a little bit."

In terms of speed, Cruz has averaged a sprint speed of 28.7 feet per second this season, placing him in the 86th percentile among players. However, his initial burst speed over short distances is less impressive due to his larger frame.

Despite these challenges, once Cruz reaches full speed, he is one of the fastest players on the team. It takes him 3.3 seconds to cover the last 85 feet in a 90-foot sprint—a time surpassed only by Ji Hwan Bae on the Pirates roster.

Comparing this situation with other sports highlights Cruz's unique physical attributes and potential for success in center field. While there may be some disappointment about not excelling at shortstop, both Cruz and team management believe he has what it takes to become an elite center fielder.