Future Watch: Oneil Cruz Rookie Baseball Cards, Pirates

by | Mar 12, 2020 | Future Watch, Future Watch - Baseball

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Future Watch: Oneil Cruz Rookie Baseball Cards, PiratesFuture Watch: Oneil Cruz Rookie Baseball Cards, Pirates – Oneil Cruz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015 as a free agent. In November of 2019, the Pittsburgh Pirates purchased his contract from the Altoona Curve. He was in AA at the time. In 2018, he played for the West Virginia Power and slugged 14 homers while driving in 59 runs. He added 25 doubles, seven triples, and 11 steals. This was a great move for the Bucs.

He was still in High-A in 2019 and was working his way back up the ladder. While playing for the Bradenton Marauders, he had six doubles, seven homers and 16 RBI with a .301 average.

Cruz has had several cards issued to date. However, collectors can find his first officially designated rookie cards in 2019 Topps baseball products including Bowman Chrome. He has also appeared in sets from Leaf, Onyx and Panini.

According to his MLB.com Prospect Profile:

Tall and gangly, Cruz has grown since first entering pro ball and now stands at 6-foot-6, not a height anyone has seen stick at shortstop. And while there’s still a good chance he doesn’t, he’s made more strides at the premium position than anyone anticipated, with a cannon for an arm and above-average speed that helps him range-wise.

Super-athletic, Cruz could easily handle an outfield spot should he slow down as he physically matures, and he could easily be an above-average defender in a corner. His real upside, though, comes with the bat. There’s still more refinement in terms of strike zone discipline Cruz can make, but he’s shown he is more than capable of developing that part of his game. Just 20 for all of the 2019 season, Cruz has tremendous upside and should continue to be one of the most fascinating prospects to track. ETA 2021.

Here’s a look at him in action:


Cruz, now 21, ended 2019 in Altoona where he hit eight doubles, a homer and 17 RBI in 35 games. He had a .346 on-base percentage. With his power and speed, there’s a chance he can become a good shortstop, and at 6-7, he may be the tallest ever at that position. He was in training camp this year, he should stick next year.

Future Watch: Oneil Cruz Rookie Baseball Cards, Pirates – Stats

Register Batting
Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
2016 17 -1.2 Dodgers 1 DOSL FRk LAD 55 210 187 28 55 18 5 0 23 11 5 22 44 .294 .367 .444 .811 83 5 0 0 1 0
2017 18 2 Teams 2 Lgs A LAD 105 438 397 60 94 11 2 10 44 8 7 36 132 .237 .297 .350 .647 139 6 0 0 5 1
2017 18 -3.3 Great Lakes MIDW A LAD 89 375 342 51 82 9 1 8 36 8 7 28 110 .240 .293 .342 .635 117 5 0 0 5 1
2017 18 -3.5 West Virginia SALL A PIT 16 63 55 9 12 2 1 2 8 0 0 8 22 .218 .317 .400 .717 22 1 0 0 0 0
2017-18 18 -8.4 Escogido DOWL FgW 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018 19 -2.4 West Virginia SALL A PIT 103 443 402 66 115 25 7 14 59 11 5 34 100 .286 .343 .488 .831 196 7 3 0 4 2
2019 20 3 Teams 3 Lgs A+-AA-Rk PIT 73 292 265 35 79 15 4 8 34 11 4 24 74 .298 .356 .475 .832 126 1 1 0 2 2
2019 20 -4.1 Altoona EL AA PIT 35 136 119 14 32 8 3 1 17 3 1 15 35 .269 .346 .412 .757 49 1 0 0 2 1
2019 20 -2.4 Bradenton FLOR A+ PIT 35 145 136 21 41 6 1 7 16 7 3 8 38 .301 .345 .515 .860 70 0 1 0 0 1
2019 20 0.5 Pirates GULF Rk PIT 3 11 10 0 6 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 .600 .636 .700 1.336 7 0 0 0 0 0
2019 20 -2.1 Peoria AZFL Fal 14 49 42 6 8 1 0 0 1 1 1 7 21 .190 .306 .214 .520 9 0 0 0 0 0
2019-20 20 -6.7 Escogido DOWL FgW 8 30 27 2 5 2 0 0 5 0 1 2 10 .185 .267 .259 .526 7 1 1 0 0 0
Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB
Minors (4 seasons) Minors 336 1383 1251 189 343 69 18 32 160 41 21 116 350 .274 .335 .435 .770 544 19 4 0 12 5
Foreign (2 seasons) Foreign 9 31 28 2 5 2 0 0 5 0 1 2 10 .179 .258 .250 .508 7 1 1 0 0 0
Other (1 season) Other 14 49 42 6 8 1 0 0 1 1 1 7 21 .190 .306 .214 .520 9 0 0 0 0 0
All Levels (4 Seasons) 359 1463 1321 197 356 72 18 32 166 42 23 125 381 .269 .332 .424 .756 560 20 5 0 12 5
AA (1 season) Minors 35 136 119 14 32 8 3 1 17 3 1 15 35 .269 .346 .412 .757 49 1 0 0 2 1
A+ (1 season) Minors 35 145 136 21 41 6 1 7 16 7 3 8 38 .301 .345 .515 .860 70 0 1 0 0 1
A (2 seasons) Minors 208 881 799 126 209 36 9 24 103 19 12 70 232 .262 .320 .419 .739 335 13 3 0 9 3
Rk (1 season) Minors 3 11 10 0 6 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 .600 .636 .700 1.336 7 0 0 0 0 0
FRk (1 season) Minors 55 210 187 28 55 18 5 0 23 11 5 22 44 .294 .367 .444 .811 83 5 0 0 1 0
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/12/2020.

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For more from Russ Cohen, follow him on Twitter @sportsology.

Russ Cohen is the author of several top-selling sports related books.

Baseball’s Best Rookies
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100 Things Rangers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
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