Oneil, like his father, throws from the right side, and he bats left-handed since his father taught him to do so. Rafael, who spent three seasons in the minors with the Rangers in the mid-1980s, was a two-way player.
“I took him to the park since he was a tiny boy so he could play and see what he would get into,” Rafael added. “I’d take him everywhere, and he grew up surrounded by baseball.”
It is a family hobby. I participated. We had uncles and cousins who were all baseball players, but none of us ever made it to the majors. Oneil being the first would be fantastic.”
Cruz, who stands 6-foot-6, has a chance to become the tallest player to start a game at shortstop in Major League history.
Although 6-foot-7 Joel Guzman played nine innings at shortstop for the Rays in three games in 2007, no player taller than 6-foot-5 has ever started a game at shortstop.
Archi Cianfrocco, Troy Glaus, and Mike Morse are among the few 6-foot-5 players who have started at the position.
Cruz’s ability to stick at shortstop remains to be seen, but he appears to have a good chance of reaching the majors.
Yes, the 20-year-old is still a year or two away from reaching his full potential, but he possesses as much raw power as anyone in the Pirates’ farm system.
Despite missing two months with a foot fracture this season, he is batting .307 across three levels in 60 games. Cruz has seven home runs, and his average and slugging percentage would both be career highs if the season ended today.
How Much Does Oneil Cruz Make?
Oniel Cruz makes an annual salary of $570,500.