History of Oneil Cruz in Timeline

Oneil Cruz is a Dominican professional baseball player who plays center field and shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates in MLB. He debuted in Major League Baseball in 2021 and is known for his athleticism.

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Full Timeline

October 4, 1998: Oneil Cruz's Birth

On October 4, 1998, Oneil Cruz was born. He would later become a professional baseball center fielder and shortstop.

Others born on this day/year

2007: Joel Guzmán's Shortstop Appearance

In 2007, Joel Guzmán, standing at 6-foot-7, played nine innings as a shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, making him one of the few players of that height to play the position, a fact noted in comparison to Oneil Cruz's height.

July 2015: Signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers

In July 2015, Oneil Cruz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent, receiving a $950,000 signing bonus.

2016: Professional Debut

In 2016, Oneil Cruz made his professional debut with DSL Dodgers 1, achieving a .294 batting average with 23 runs batted in (RBI) across 55 games.

July 31, 2017: Trade to the Pirates

On July 31, 2017, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Oneil Cruz and Angel German to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Tony Watson. Cruz was then assigned to the West Virginia Power.

2017: Start of 2017 Season

Oneil Cruz started the 2017 season with the Great Lakes Loons.

2018: Playing for West Virginia Power

In 2018, Oneil Cruz played for the West Virginia Power, achieving a .286 batting average with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs in 103 games, and was named a South Atlantic League All-Star.

November 20, 2019: Addition to 40-Man Roster

On November 20, 2019, the Pirates added Oneil Cruz to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

2019: Progression Through Teams and Injury

In 2019, Oneil Cruz began the season with the Bradenton Marauders but suffered a right foot fracture on April 27. After recovering, he was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Pirates on June 24 and later promoted to the Altoona Curve on July 28, finishing the season with a .298 average across the three teams.

September 22, 2020: Vehicle Accident

On September 22, 2020, Oneil Cruz was involved in a deadly vehicle crash in the Dominican Republic that resulted in three fatalities. He survived the accident without serious injury.

2020: Season Cancellation

In 2020, Oneil Cruz did not play in any games due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2, 2021: Promotion to Active Roster

On October 2, 2021, Oneil Cruz was promoted to the active roster for the first time to make his MLB debut.

2021: MLB Debut

In 2021, Oneil Cruz made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

2021: Minor League Season and Combined Stats

In 2021, Oneil Cruz split the minor league season between Altoona and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, achieving a combined .310/.375/.594 batting average with 17 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases.

August 24, 2022: Hardest-Hit Ball Recorded

On August 24, 2022, Oneil Cruz hit the hardest-hit ball since the advent of Statcast, against Kyle Wright of the Atlanta Braves, recorded at 122.4 miles per hour (197.0 km/h).

April 10, 2023: Fractured Fibula

On April 10, 2023, Oneil Cruz fractured his left fibula while sliding into home plate, an injury that ultimately ruled him out for the entire season after multiple setbacks.

August 26, 2024: Move to Center Field

On August 26, 2024, it was announced that Oneil Cruz would be moving to center field for the foreseeable future.

2024: Performance Stats

In 2024, Oneil Cruz batted .259/.324/.449 with 21 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases, and had the highest maximum exit velocity in MLB, at 121.5 mph.