CINCINNATI – Bubba Chandler was in the tunnel of the visitor’s dugout when he heard commotion in the crowd and wondered who hit the home run, only to find out that Oneil Cruz crushed one.
The Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder drilled Brandon Williamson’s 3-1 cutter 444 feet to right field, tying for the longest home run in the majors this season. Chandler hated to miss the monster mash, so he watched in wonder on an iPad and marveled at how quickly a multi-homer game can change the narrative on Cruz.
“When Oneil is going, it’s special,” Chandler said. “You’re going to see something big out of him.”
The 6-foot-7, 248-pounder went from lightning rod to lightning bolt Tuesday night, when he went 3 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs in the Pirates’ 8-3 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Cruz was batting .200 (2 for 10) in three games but singled to right in the second inning and then hit the 111.1-mph shot to lead off the fourth inning. That both came against a left-handed pitcher was worth noting, considering Cruz batted .102 (11 for 108) against lefties last season.
“He really worked hard this offseason,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Left-on-left has had some success. To get into a good count, get a good pitch and hit that home run in that at-bat was huge.”
It’s why Cruz hired a lefty to throw him batting practice this past winter, a move that is starting to pay dividends.
“That was what I was working on in the offseason, and the work that I put in I think is showing right now,” Cruz said through the translation of Pirates coach Stephen Morales. “And that’s why I did it. Just to put myself in a better spot against lefties.”
Cruz capped his night by hitting a two-run homer in the ninth inning for the third multi-homer game of his career. These type of performances have created great expectations for Cruz, who has set Statcast records for his exit velocities.
“When Oneil Cruz goes, we go,” Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum said. “He’s a world of talent. I’m super excited to get to watch him play all year. We got to see what he can do tonight. It’s super special.”
It ran counter to how Cruz played on Opening Day, when a pair of miscues in center field proved costly in the first inning and played a role in shortening the start by National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. Cruz only compounded his misplays by striking out six times in 10 at-bats through his first three games.
Cruz continues to be confounding in the outfield at times. He chased a Ke’Bryan Hayes fly ball into left field and nearly collided with Bryan Reynolds, who was charged with an error when the ball dropped between them in the third inning.
“We were both going really hard after the ball, and we were both calling for the ball, and we got there at the same time,” Cruz said. “Those things happen sometimes, and you just have to get better at it.”
There was a time when Cruz would take his frustration from the field to the batter’s box, but he swore that his homer in the fourth inning had nothing to do with the previous play.
“Maybe a few years ago I would take my defense and try to do too much hitting-wise, but not anymore,” Cruz said. “I feel more mature now when it comes to that, separating my offense from my defense, and I’m in a better spot now.”
Cruz admits that the game can humble him, whether it’s not starting the second game of the season at the New York Mets or being dropped to eighth in the batting order against the Reds.
But Cruz also played a pivotal role in both of the Pirates’ victories. He drew a leadoff walk and scored a run in the first inning and made a throw for a relay on Juan Soto’s double that got Francisco Lindor tagged out at home plate in the 10th inning of Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Mets.
The Pirates know that Cruz is critical to their success, especially when he’s playing to his vast potential.
“I got to see it before,” second baseman Brandon Lowe said, “and it’s a lot more fun when he’s on your team doing it.”