The Pittsburgh Pirates officially activated center fielder Oneil Cruz from the injured list, but get this, he’s not even in the starting lineup for Monday’s game against Framber Valdez and the Detroit Tigers. Talk about a curveball! Fans were no doubt buzzing about his return, only to see him riding pine. It’s a move that certainly raises an eyebrow, especially with the team’s current position in the NL Central.
Cruz’s Return Is Complicated After a Rough Rehab
Cruz hasn’t been on the field since June 7, when he made a brief appearance as a pinch runner. The real damage happened a day earlier, on June 6, when he suffered two hand fractures sliding into home plate. Before that brutal slide, the guy was absolutely scorching! In 64 games, he was slashing .264/.350/.472. Compare that to his previous season, where he put up .200/.298/.374 in 135 games. He was clearly on pace for a massive improvement this season, showing everyone what he could really do. So, his absence has been a huge blow. Now, about that rehab stint: it wasn’t pretty. Cruz made six appearances in the minors and struggled hard, going just 3 for 22 at the plate for a .136 average, striking out seven times. Maybe that’s why he’s not immediately back in the starting nine; the team might be cautious after that rough patch getting back into game shape.
Who’s Been Holding Down the Fort, and Who’s Gone?
While Cruz was sidelined, the Pirates leaned on Jake Mangum and Billy Cook in the outfield. Mangum has really stepped up, playing in 103 games and hitting a solid .300 with four homers and 28 RBI. He’s definitely earned a role even with Cruz back, which is huge for Pittsburgh’s depth. Cook, on the other hand, has had a tough go. He’s made 68 appearances, but many were as a defensive replacement, and his bat hasn’t been there, hitting just .188 with a .204 on-base percentage. In a corresponding move to make room for Cruz, utility man Ronny Simon got optioned down to Triple-A. Simon actually put up some decent numbers in his limited time, hitting .290 with nine hits and two RBI in nine games and 34 plate appearances. But in a numbers game, sometimes you’re the odd man out, even when you’re producing.
Can Pittsburgh Salvage a Wild Card Spot?
The Pirates kick off a three-game homestand against the Tigers on Monday with a 61-65 record, sitting in fourth place in the NL Central. This team desperately needs to find some consistency; they haven’t been able to string together wins. While they did win three of their last four games, zoom out a bit, and they’re only 4-8 in their last 12. It’s been a frustrating stretch for fans, no doubt. But here’s the thing: if they can somehow catch fire down the stretch, the source tells us they still have a shot to sneak into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. Getting Cruz back, even if he’s not starting right away, is a massive shot in the arm for that push. Can they actually do it? It’s going to take some serious magic, and Cruz needs to shake off that rehab rust fast. Let’s see what this Tigers series brings.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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