- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Pirates Struggle with Oneil Cruz's Defense in Center Field
Calls for the team to change Cruz's position after Opening Day blunders
Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:20pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Pittsburgh Pirates' 2026 season got off to a rough start, with center fielder Oneil Cruz struggling defensively in the team's Opening Day loss to the New York Mets. Cruz failed to reel in two catches in the bottom of the first inning, allowing runs to score and forcing starting pitcher Paul Skenes out of the game early. Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer is now calling for the Pirates to change Cruz's position, noting that the slugger is "still not a center fielder" despite getting plenty of opportunities to transition to the outfield.
Why it matters
Cruz is a key part of the Pirates' lineup, but his defensive struggles in center field have become a major liability for the team. The Pirates have tried to make the position change work, but Cruz's -17 Defensive Runs Saved in just over 1,200 innings in center field suggests he may not be suited for the role. The team will need to find a way to get Cruz's bat in the lineup while addressing his defensive shortcomings.
The details
In the bottom of the first inning against the Mets, Cruz failed to make two crucial catches, allowing runs to score and forcing Skenes out of the game early. Rymer argues that these blunders are not just a one-off occurrence, but rather a continuation of Cruz's struggles in center field. Despite getting plenty of opportunities to transition to the outfield, Cruz's defense has not shown enough progress, and the Pirates may need to consider moving him to a different position to maximize his offensive potential.
- The Pirates' 2026 season began on March 27, 2026.
- The Opening Day game against the Mets took place on March 27, 2026.
The players
Oneil Cruz
The Pittsburgh Pirates' center fielder who has struggled defensively in the position despite getting plenty of opportunities to transition to the outfield.
Paul Skenes
The Pittsburgh Pirates' starting pitcher who was forced out of the Opening Day game against the Mets due to Cruz's defensive lapses.
Zachary D. Rymer
A writer for Bleacher Report who is calling for the Pirates to change Oneil Cruz's position after his poor defensive performance on Opening Day.
What they’re saying
“Oneil Cruz is still not a center fielder. Yeah, that was a tough sun at Citi Field this afternoon. But when a guy has -17 Defensive Runs Saved in just 1,256.1 innings as a center fielder, it's fair to fault the guy, too.”
— Zachary D. Rymer, Writer
What’s next
The Pirates will need to evaluate their options for Oneil Cruz's position going forward, as his defensive struggles in center field have become a liability for the team. They may need to consider moving him to a different position, such as designated hitter, to maximize his offensive potential while addressing his defensive shortcomings.
The takeaway
Oneil Cruz's defensive struggles in center field have become a major issue for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the team may need to consider changing his position to address this problem. While Cruz is a key part of the team's lineup, his -17 Defensive Runs Saved in over 1,200 innings in center field suggests he may not be suited for the role, and the Pirates will need to find a way to get his bat in the lineup while addressing his defensive shortcomings.
