The Pittsburgh Pirates are kicking off 2026 with Oneil Cruz as their center fielder once again. Known more for his bat than his glove, his first game went about as poorly as you could imagine from a defensive standpoint. Cruz misplayed two flyballs that were hit in his direction, losing both in the sun. The first was over his head, resulting in a three-run, bases-clearing triple. The other was a pop fly with a high 46-degree launch angle, which Cruz lost in the bright sun.
However, it raises an important and uncomfortable question, the Pirates may have to answer sooner rather than later: how much longer can they put up with Cruz in center field?
Oneil Cruz’s Rough Day in Center Field Raises Questions for Pirates
From Gold Glove Promise to Shaky Defense
Cruz originally started getting regular reps in center field in September 2024. The move was made to accommodate the trade deadline acquisition of Isiah Kiner-Falefa. However, the move first looked like a massive success. He was getting fantastic jumps and running good routes. He covered 38.7 feet in his jump, which was the most of any outfielder in 2024. His 0.6 route running was the 15th best.
However, Cruz took a significant step back in 2025. His jump on flyballs fell to 33.8 feet, which only ranked as the 47th best in baseball. He still was a solid route runner, at 0.1, but it was a downturn from his brief 2024 look in center field. Defensive metrics were all over the place. The defensive runs saved metric hated Cruz’s glove work in center. He had -14 DRS. That was the fewest by a Pirates center fielder since Bryan Reynolds in 2022, who also had -14. The last Pirates center fielder with a worse mark than -14 was Andrew McCutchen with -26 in 2016. However, outs above average didn’t hate his fielding, putting him at league average of zero.
Oneil Cruz with two of the worst center field plays you’ll see in a big league game
…in the first inning of the first game of the year pic.twitter.com/kaBWNd58a3
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 26, 2026
Limited Options for Cruz
Now, for what it’s worth, this could be a one-off for Cruz this year. He lost both fly balls because he wasn’t wearing sunglasses, like both Ryan O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds were. However, it would be far from the first time he misplayed a flyball. The Pirates do have some options that can play center field on the 40-man roster. Jhostynxon García projects as an average defensive center fielder. Fellow offseason acquisition Jake Mangum had +6 outs above average with +1 DRS in center field (+3 DRS, +6 OAA between all three outfield spots) last season. The Pirates could also give Billy Cook some more playing time, as he graded out as an outstanding outfield defender.
However, the Pirates may be stuck with Cruz in center field for now, barring a massive roster move. He can’t play designated hitter, given that the Pirates added Marcell Ozuna this offseason. They could move him to an outfield corner, giving García or Mangum playing time up the middle. However, that would mean taking playing time away from Reynolds or O’Hearn. Neither can get regular playing time at designated hitter or first base, with Ozuna and Spencer Horwitz in the fold.
The Pirates could move him back to the infield. However, that may only cause more problems than it solves. The best thing the Pirates can do is show confidence in Cruz. He certainly needs that right now after his first game of 2026. If the Pirates want to attempt to move Cruz again, it will have to wait until later this season if he continues to prove he has trouble in center field, or next year when an opportunity opens up.
Main Photo Credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images
