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Once 'fearful' baseball career was over, Pirates' Oneil Cruz embraces opportunity in outfield

Mar. 4—When Oneil Cruz was involved in an auto accident that killed three people in September in his native Dominican Republic, the Pittsburgh Pirates prospect worried his blossoming baseball career was over.

"In the beginning, I was very fearful of not being able to continue to play the game that I love and to reach the dream I've always had, which is to reach the big leagues," Cruz said Thursday through team translator Mike Gonzalez on a video conference call from Bradenton, Fla. "However, when things became clear later and everything was solved, I was able to reach that hope again that I'll be able to play.

"Now, I have peace."

The Pirates have called Cruz's after-curfew crash into the back of a motorcycle with no headlights or tail lights carrying two men and a woman a "tragic accident," but the club has supported Cruz as he was arrested and released on $34,000 bail. Gonzalez started the interview by advising the team said Cruz could not discuss details of the case.

Cruz arrived at spring training with a newfound appreciation for his opportunity and was presented the opportunity by the Pirates to try a new position. At his entrance interview, the 22-year-old shortstop was asked to play the outfield for the first time in his professional career.

Cruz made his debut in center field Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, starting at shortstop before switching to center field in the fifth inning. Pirates manager Derek Shelton put Cruz at center in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves at LECOM Park.

"I'm actually very excited, not only for the opportunity, but I also feel like it's gonna be something that's gonna work out very well for me," said Cruz, who added he played outfield in winter ball intrasquad games. "If the opportunity for me is to play outfield, that's what I'm going to do to not only help the team but to also get closer to my goal."

Not only do the Pirates value versatility, they also have a three-way battle for the starting job at shortstop with Erik Gonzalez, Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker that prevents Cruz from getting much time there in Grapefruit League games. The Pirates also have a wide-open competition in center, with veteran Brian Goodwin the frontrunner and Anthony Alford limited defensively after surgery on his right elbow.

"It's just adding something else to his tool box, and, like we've talked about, versatility is important for our roster and so we're going to put him out there and see how it goes," said Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who got good reports on Cruz from the alternate training site in Altoona last summer. "They say, if you talk to outfield guys, center field is the easiest spot to go to just because everything is in front of you and usually when you're putting an infielder out there, it's the easiest spot because they can see the most and they're most engaged."

The 6-foot-7 Cruz said he has sprouted 6 inches since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015 — "To this day, I'm still praying that I stop growing," said Cruz, who was acquired by the Pirates in the Tony Watson trade — and there long has been scuttlebutt he has outgrown the position despite his athleticism and dexterity. That hasn't stopped him from soaring up the prospect rankings. He is regarded as one of the Pirates' top five prospects and is No. 28 overall by ESPN, No. 50 by Baseball America and No. 64 by MLB Pipeline.

The Pirates are excited about giving Cruz a chance in the outfield, given the opening in center and that right fielder Gregory Polanco is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. First base coach Tarrik Brock, who instructs the outfielders, sees Cruz's size as a strength in the outfield.

"His length will help him at all three positions — left, center and right field — and the arm will play in any park in America, so when he gets out there — or if he's out there or when he's out there — we'll welcome him with open arms and just see what he can do," Brock said, noting the players liken Cruz to 6-10 NBA star Kevin Durant. "He's an athlete, that's for sure. He has a nickname of KD for a reason, because he can move around and flow, and I just can't wait to see him in the outfield.

"One thing with his height and his length, is that he can cover ground that other people just can't. Where it's like one step for him is two to three for others. That's one. Being able to stretch out and cut a ball off would be really good, and also, going deep into the gap, being able to reach up and make catches that other guys won't be able to make would definitely save us. Where other guys would have to jump, he can just stay on his feet and still keep running, so the height definitely plays, for sure."

Asked for his wingspan and vertical leap, Cruz was unaware of his measurables but pointed to a 3-foot tall kitchen countertop and said in Spanish he could clear it with ease. So the idea of robbing hitters with catches over the center-field wall at PNC Park is appealing.

"If the opportunity is there," Cruz said with a smile, "I'm going to steal that home run."

The Pirates have proven they are willing to experiment without making the move permanent. Tucker, a former first-round pick, switched to the outfield last July and played 20 games in center and 12 in right last season before moving back to shortstop this spring. Spending last season in the outfield helped Tucker better understand the importance of hitting the cutoff man to prevent runners from taking extra bases.

"You need to know where everyone needs to be, and you're like the quarterback out in the middle of the field," Tucker said. "You know where every cutoff and relay should go. Being on the outfield side of it last year, I was looking at it from a completely different lens, but it opened up my vision of field because you are so far away and you get to see plays unfold in a different way, as opposed to just being in the thick of it and knowing, 'All right, I'm playing shortstop, I go here. I'm playing second base, I go here.' Being in the outfield, you get a different perspective of that whole thing."

The Pirates have to hope Cruz can make a similar seamless transition. First he has to prove he can hit big league pitching. While Cruz has a reputation for putting on a show with batting practice bombs, he also has a high strikeout rate and has played only 35 games in Double-A.

Cruz hit .269/.346/.412 with eight doubles, three triples, one home run and 17 RBIs, striking out 35 times in 136 plate appearances (25.7%) for the Altoona Curve in 2019. In 14 games with the Escogido Giants this winter, Cruz batted .245 with a double and two triples and struck out 14 times in 50 plate appearances (28%).

His philosophy toward his approach at the plate is simple: "Hit it hard. Wherever it goes, just hit it hard. My goal is to just keep working on hitting the ball hard, no matter where it goes."

Although the Pirates want to see what Cruz can do in center, he said they were direct in telling him they still see him as a shortstop, the same message that was given to Tucker last summer.

It's a view Cruz shares, showing a cocksure confidence in himself.

"I still see myself as a shortstop," Cruz said. "No one is going to move me out of there."

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin by email at kgorman@triblive.com or via Twitter .