History of Oneil Cruz in Timeline

Oneil Cruz is a professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic, currently playing center field and shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates in MLB. He debuted in the major leagues in 2021.

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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, also 6-foot-7-inch (2.01 m) tall, played nine innings at shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, being one of the few major league players with similar height to Oneil Cruz to play that position.

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 with DSL Dodgers 1

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: Traded to the Pirates

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

2017: Began season with Great Lakes Loons

In 2017, Oneil Cruz started the season playing with the Great Lakes Loons.

2018: Played for West Virginia Power

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

November 20, 2019: Added to Pirates' 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: Season with multiple teams

In 2019, Oneil Cruz began the year with the Bradenton Marauders, fractured his right foot on April 27, was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Pirates on June 24 after missing two months, and was promoted to the Altoona Curve on July 28. He hit .298 in 73 games across the three teams during the 2019 season.

September 22, 2020: Involved in Deadly Vehicle Crash

On September 22, 2020, Oneil Cruz was involved in a deadly vehicle crash in the Dominican Republic where three people were killed. The accident occurred when his Jeep collided with a motorcycle traveling without lights. Cruz survived without serious injury.

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 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

In 2021, Oneil Cruz split the minor league season between Altoona and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, achieving a combined .310/.375/.594 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 then hardest-hit ball since the advent of Statcast, recording a speed of 122.4 miles per hour (197.0 km/h) against Atlanta Braves pitcher Kyle Wright.

April 10, 2023: Fractured Fibula

On April 10, 2023, Oneil Cruz fractured his left fibula while sliding into home plate, which was blocked by White Sox catcher Seby Zavala. The injury occurred as Cruz attempted to score from third base on a ground ball, ruling him out for the entire season after setbacks.

August 26, 2024: Move to Center Field

On August 26, 2024, it was announced by manager Derek Shelton that Oneil Cruz would be transitioning to the center field position for the foreseeable future.

2024: Season Statistics and Exit Velocity Record

In 2024, Oneil Cruz achieved a batting average of .259/.324/.449 with 21 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. He also recorded the highest maximum exit velocity in MLB, at 121.5 mph.

April 16, 2025: First Career Grand Slam

On April 16, 2025, Oneil Cruz hit his first career grand slam against the Washington Nationals, contributing to a 6-1 victory.

May 25, 2025: Hardest-Hit Ball in Statcast Era

On May 25, 2025, Oneil Cruz hit the hardest-hit ball in the Statcast Era, reaching 122.9 miles per hour (197.8 km/h) against Logan Henderson of the Milwaukee Brewers, surpassing his previous record. The ball traveled 432 feet (132 m) for a home run.