June 25, 2022: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (15) waits on deck during the MLB game between Pittsburg Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays St. Petersburg, FL. Tampa Bay Rays defeat the Pittsburg

Oneil Cruz working hard to stay at shortstop for Pirates, remain baseball's biggest oddity

Oneil Cruz is 6ft 7in and can blast a baseball 122mph. But can he play?, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh, USA. June 25, 2022: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (15) waits on deck during the MLB game between Pittsburg Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays St. Petersburg, FL. Tampa Bay Rays defeat

Pittsburgh, USA. June 25, 2022: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Wil Crowe (29) grabs the ball out of the air during the MLB game between Pittsburg Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays St. Petersburg

Oneil Cruz working hard to stay at shortstop for Pirates, remain baseball's biggest oddity

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (15) throws out the Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Pittsburgh. The Pirates won 5-4. (AP

Oneil Cruz Homers on Opening Day Reds vs. Pirates Highlights (3/30/23)

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (61) throws to first base during a Major League Spring Training game against the Baltimore Orioles on February 28, 2021 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (

ESPN on X: Breaking: Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz suffered a fractured ankle in a collision at home plate on Sunday, Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced. / X

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz waits on deck before batting in the second inning of baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar Stock Photo