DUNEDIN, Fla. — Thanks to Statcast, we can instantly view the exit velocities and distances of most balls hit this spring during Grapefruit League games. On Saturday, the Pirates kept the computer busy by cranking four home runs against the Tigers.
Ben Gamel’s two-run homer traveled 401 feet at 103.4 mph. Endy Rodriguez’s two-run blast went 413 feet at 101.7 mph. Tucupita Marcano’s solo shot went 368 feet at 96.8 mph.
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However, it took a while for the data on Oneil Cruz’s solo home run to appear online. Maybe Statcast blew a few circuits trying to process the physics of Cruz contorting his 6-foot-7 frame and instantly adjusting his smooth, powerful swing to mash a pitch that was inches off the dirt. Even Cruz was at as loss to describe how it happened.
“I’m going to be honest with you,” Cruz said through an interpreter on Sunday, “I don’t even know how I hit that ball.”
Night, besties.
Enjoy this angle of Oneil Cruz’s home run. pic.twitter.com/LmLhrfqRnU
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 20, 2022
The mechanics behind Cruz’s improbable long ball could have been designed by Rube Goldberg. Right-hander Jason Foley fired a slider that dove hard at Cruz’s ankles. Most batters would have simply spit on it and happily moved on with a 1-0 count. Not Cruz. He dipped his body, adjusted his bat speed and connected.
“I thought that ball was about to bounce,” Gamel said. “He clipped it. He’s pretty talented, man. He’s 6-7 and he looks like a big leaguer.”
Statcast eventually reported that the ball flew 413 feet with an exit velocity of 97.2 mph. How did Cruz generate that kind of power by swinging practically from one knee?
“He is really good,” manager Derek Shelton said.
Well, yeah, we already know that. In last year’s season finale, Cruz used a similarly awkward swing to jack his first career homer at PNC Park. He’s big, fast and strong, and has produced a .281/.342/.463 line over five seasons in the minors.
“I think the thing is just leverage,” Shelton said. “You’ve got a guy that’s that long and has the ability to extend. When you’re that long and strong and you stay through the ball and get it elevated, it’s gonna go.”
It sounds so simple. For a power-starved club such as the Pirates, the obvious next step is to make Cruz the Opening Day shortstop, right?
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Well … actually, no.
“I think there’s still development to be had there,” Shelton said. “Oneil is gonna have an impact on our club this year at some point. When that is, I don’t think any of us know. But the fact that he’s gonna play multiple positions, he’s continuing to learn to swing the bat, and there is development there.”
I asked Cruz what he still must do to show management he deserves to be in the lineup on April 7 against the Cardinals. Cruz listened to the translation of the question, paused and then chose his words carefully.
“I feel like I’ve demonstrated a lot, but I guess I’ve just got to continue demonstrating,” Cruz said.
“Personally, I like his confidence,” Shelton said. “But I think there are areas of growth in his full game and development that we’re going to continue to talk about and I think are going to continue to expand.”
A couple of hours after Shelton poured cold water on any hopes that Cruz won’t open the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, Kevin Newman smacked a fastball from Blue Jays lefty Anthony Kay to the wall in left-center for a leadoff double.
Newman figures to be the Opening Day shortstop for the third year in a row. That decision has nothing to do with a wind-blown double in a Grapefruit League game. Newman batted .606 in spring training last year, then hit .226/.265/.309 during the regular season. He is a four-year veteran who last year made dramatic defensive improvements and became a Gold Glove finalist, and that’s enough — for now — to get the job.
Cruz’s defense needs some polish. He made 13 errors in 54 games at short last season with Double-A Altoona. There’s a reason he’s the only 6-7 shortstop in major-league history.
The Pirates need a corner outfielder in the wake of Gregory Polanco’s departure. Greg Allen looks to be the front-runner to fill the spot on Opening Day, but he doesn’t figure to be a long-term solution. Cruz, 23, could be that guy for the next half-dozen years.
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Cruz was about to receive playing time in the outfield last season when a forearm strain benched him for several weeks. That teaching process will resume this spring.
“They haven’t mentioned anything to me,” Cruz said. “I’m gonna stay right there at shortstop.” He emphasized the point by slapping one massive hand into the other.
“He’s going to play somewhere in the outfield at some point in spring training,” Shelton said. “He’s done a good job at short so far. I think we’ll stay with those two (positions) for now and build off that.”
It might take some time for Cruz to settle into a more definite role, even if it’s a permanent hybrid of shortstop and right field. But his offensive upside will make it difficult for management to keep him in the minors for long.
Cruz already has shown his hot zone stretches from his ankles to the brim of his cap. Don’t forget that it also extends from a few inches off his hands to more than a foot off the plate.
“That’s where my long arms come into play,” Cruz said. “I‘m able to protect the zone and take care of any area in the zone and make pitchers uncomfortable wherever they throw the ball. I can’t really think of a pitch right now that makes me feel uncomfortable. When (the count is) 0-0, I have a mindset of finding a pitch in a certain part of the zone. Once I’m behind in the count or if I have a strike, I began to cover the zone in every way that I can.”
The translator used the Spanish word “grandissima” — that’s “great” in English — to describe Cruz’s hot zone at the plate. I suggested Grandissima should become Cruz’s nickname when he finally reaches the majors for good. Cruz smiled at that one, and didn’t disagree.
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