MILWAUKEE — Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Oneil Cruz was benched after a critical base running error during the team’s 9-3 defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Cruz mistakenly slowed down on a double-play grounder in the seventh inning, believing the inning had ended when it had not, which contributed to his removal from the game.
The incident occurred with the Pirates trailing 7-3, a runner on first base, and one out in the seventh inning. Cruz hit a ground ball resulting in a 6-4-3 double play. After the Brewers recorded the force out at second base, Cruz eased up, thinking it was the third out, but the play was still ongoing. This lapse momentarily affected the inning’s dynamics.
Manager Don Kelly Cites Energy Drop as Reason for Substitution
Following the mistake, Pirates manager Don Kelly replaced Cruz with a defensive substitute in the eighth inning to address concerns about his effort level. Kelly explained that the change was prompted by Cruz’s diminished energy during the play.
“energy and effort going down the line.”
—Don Kelly, Pirates Manager
After the game, Cruz acknowledged Kelly’s decision and took responsibility for the confusion on the basepaths.
“DK had all the rights to do what he did, and I’ll back him up on that,”
—Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder
“It was my fault because I thought there were two outs in that situation. That’s why I let off running to first base.”
—Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder
Kelly confirmed that he explained the reasoning behind benching Cruz, reinforcing the team’s expectations.
“We talked,” Kelly said.
“He knows the expectation. Right there, I feel we fell a little short.”
—Don Kelly, Pirates Manager
When asked about Cruz’s status for upcoming games, Kelly remained noncommittal, indicating a discussion would take place before decisions are made.
“We’re going to sit down and talk, and we’ll figure that out,”
—Don Kelly, Pirates Manager
Cruz’s Recent Struggles at the Plate Shadowing Defensive Mistake
The 26-year-old infielder has struggled offensively this month, batting just .156 over 77 at-bats and striking out 31 times, a steep decline from his productive start to the season. Early May saw Cruz reach a .911 OPS and launch a 122.9-mph home run off the Brewers on May 25, the hardest-hit ball recorded by Statcast since 2015.
Currently, Cruz posts a .208 batting average with a .321 on-base percentage and .404 slugging across 71 games, tallying 13 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases.
“He’s struggling at the plate right now,”
—Don Kelly, Pirates Manager
“It’s difficult when you’re going through that and trying to figure it out. He’s working hard to do that. That’s one thing we’ve got to be mindful of, is not letting that offense carry over to defense and base running, and the energy and effort that we’re giving on any other aspects of the game as well.”
—Don Kelly, Pirates Manager
Cruz Reflects on Lessons from Veteran Teammates and Focus Moving Forward
Cruz maintained that his hitting struggles are unrelated to the base-running error and stated that the slump has not impacted his defensive or base-running attention. He also expressed appreciation for the guidance from manager Kelly and the example set by veteran players like Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham.
“They’re a really good example,” Cruz said.
“They always run hard. They always go out there to do their 100%. That’s a teaching point for me. I accepted the way DK came to me and explained it and presented it to me.”
—Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder
This mistake and the resulting benching highlight the challenge of maintaining focus during difficult stretches, particularly as Cruz works through a slump that has affected his overall game. The Pirates’ coaching staff will monitor his energy and effort closely as the season progresses, emphasizing the importance of consistent mental and physical performance on and off the field.