Pirates' Oneil Cruz faces challenges due to WBC absence

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Oneil Cruz, the star player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, spent much of spring training playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic instead of with his MLB team. This limited his playing time with the Pirates, where he likely would have gotten 30-40 plate appearances, to just 8 plate appearances with the D.R. team. The Pirates will now have to get Cruz up to speed quickly before Opening Day, hoping his unusual spring training doesn't limit his ability to contribute to the team's season.

Why it matters

Cruz is a crucial player for the Pirates this season, and the team will be counting on him to provide consistency at the plate and on defense. His limited playing time during spring training due to the WBC could impact his readiness for the start of the regular season.

The details

While playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Cruz had just 8 plate appearances, though he went 3-for-5 with 3 walks. In comparison, he likely would have gotten 30-40 plate appearances with the Pirates during their regular spring training schedule. The Pirates will now have less than 10 days before Opening Day to get Cruz up to speed and ensure he's ready to contribute.

• Cruz played for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
• Cruz had just 8 plate appearances with the D.R. team.
• The Pirates have less than 10 days until Opening Day to get Cruz ready.

What’s next

The Pirates will have to get Oneil Cruz a lot of playing time in the remaining spring training games to ensure he's ready for the start of the regular season.