History of Oneil Cruz in Timeline

Oneil Cruz is a professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He plays as a center fielder and shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). Cruz made his debut in MLB in 2021 and is known for his impressive physical abilities and potential on the field.

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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 player.

Others born on this day/year

2007: Joel Guzmán at Shortstop

In 2007, Joel Guzmán, another 6-foot-7-inch player, made an appearance at shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, playing nine innings.

July 2015: Signed with 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, Cruz made his professional debut with DSL Dodgers 1, achieving a .294 batting average with 23 RBIs in 55 games.

July 31, 2017: Traded to Pittsburgh 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: Season with Great Lakes Loons

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

2018: South Atlantic League All-Star

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

November 20, 2019: Added to 40-Man Roster

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

2019: Progression Through Teams

In 2019, Cruz began at High-A with the Bradenton Marauders, suffered a foot fracture on April 27, was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Pirates on June 24 after recovery, and promoted to Double-A Altoona Curve on July 28, hitting .298 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. Cruz survived without serious injury when his Jeep collided with a motorcycle.

2020: Season Cancellation

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

October 2, 2021: MLB Debut

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

2021: Minor League Season

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

2021: MLB Debut

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

August 24, 2022: Hardest-Hit Ball Recorded

On August 24, 2022, Oneil Cruz hit the hardest-hit ball since the advent of Statcast, against Atlanta Braves pitcher Kyle Wright. The ball's speed was 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 during a game against the White Sox. He was initially expected to miss four months but was later ruled out for the entire season after setbacks.