The Pittsburgh Pirates placed outfielder Oneil Cruz on the 10-day injured list retroactive to June 8 with non-displaced fractures in his left hand’s fourth and fifth metacarpals. The move was made in conjunction with the recall of outfielder Billy Cook. According to Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Cruz is expected to miss at least a month of action.
Cruz sustained the injury on Saturday when he was tagged on the hand while attempting to score from first base on a double. He did not start in the following game and appeared only as a pinch runner on Sunday. Though listed in the starting lineup on Monday, he was scratched before game time due to left hand discomfort. Further testing later confirmed the fractures.
The 24-year-old Cruz has been one of the Pirates’ most valuable players this season. He leads the team with 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases while posting a .264/.350/.472 batting line and a 128 wRC+. Despite his high strikeout rate, his combination of power, speed, and elite defensive tools has earned him 1.7 wins above replacement through early June.
The Pirates have already dealt with a rash of injuries this month. Catcher Joey Bart and pitcher Konnor Griffin were previously placed on the injured list, and the team has lost four straight games, dropping to 34-33 and falling just outside the playoff picture. Without Cruz, the Bucs now face a difficult stretch as they try to climb back into contention.
Jake Mangum has taken over in center field during Cruz’s absence. The 27-year-old has a career .293/.332/.359 line but has struggled with a 94 wRC+. While Mangum brings strong defensive value, the Pirates’ offense is expected to take a hit without Cruz’s bat in the lineup.
Cruz is expected to miss at least a month, with the All-Star break scheduled from July 13 to 16. The Pirates will look to stabilize their lineup and pitching staff in the coming days as they prepare for a key series against the Brewers beginning Tuesday.
The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander Matt Brash on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain, retroactive to June 9. In a corresponding move, the team recalled right-hander Domingo González from Triple-A Tacoma. The Mariners also reinstated infielder Miles Mastrobuoni from the 60-day injured lis
just now
Rafael Devers has shown signs of life this season after a brutal start, but his performance still doesn’t justify a blockbuster trade. The Boston Red Sox third baseman is hitting .257/.321/.500 since early May with a 30.9% strikeout rate and a .344 BABIP that suggests some regression is coming. Desp
just now
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama took a rare break from the NBA Finals bubble on his off day before Game 3, visiting Gramercy Park in Manhattan to sketch a statue. The 22-year-old center, accompanied by his sister Eve, focused on the bronze figure of 19th-century actor Edwin Booth. The sessi
just now
LeBron James has declared himself the greatest basketball player of all time, stating in a recent interview with *Time* that if an NBA general manager had to choose the No. 1 overall pick between him and other all-time legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, he would come out on top.
just now