Oneil Cruz flashes Gold Glove potential for Pirates during center field first impression
Title: Oneil Cruz flashes Gold Glove potential for Pirates during center field first impression Oneil Cruz transitioned to center field for the Pittsburgh Pirates, despite primarily playing shortstop throughout his career. Concerns about Cruz's defensive abilities at shortstop led to his position change; he committed 24 errors in 958.1 innings. While defensive metrics showed Cruz struggled at shortstop, his arm strength was notable, and he ranked highly in sprint speed. In center field, Cruz's defensive runs saved (DRS) were -3, but he had a positive outs above average (OAA) of +2. Cruz's average throw velocity from center field was 99.1 MPH, the highest recorded for a position player since 2020. He demonstrated exceptional jump ability, ranking second in the league for average feet covered in the first three seconds of a batted ball. Cruzâs route running was above average, placing him among elite defensive players like Byron Buxton and Michael A. Taylor. He successfully made four out of six challenging 4+ star catch opportunities, showcasing his potential for making difficult plays. Comparisons with established players like Byron Buxton and Mookie Betts highlight Cruz's promising defensive capabilities despite a small sample size. Overall, Cruz's initial performance in center field suggests he has the potential to evolve into a Gold Glove-caliber fielder with more experience.
Original Article: https://rumbunter.com/posts/oneil-cruz-flashes-gold-glove-potential-for-pirates-during-center-field-first-impression-01j94w6zrg0n
Original Article Author: Noah Wright
