If the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to shock the baseball world in 2026 and make an improbable run to the playoffs, they’re going to need Oneil Cruz to be the star-level player he had the potential to be as a prospect.
Cruz definitely wasn’t the player in 2025, finishing the season with a .200/.298/.378 slash line, with 20 home runs. The 27-year-old knew he didn’t play up to his potential, and made that a key focus of his offseason.
During PiratesFest over the weekend, Cruz emphasized that the offseason wasn’t about relaxing or slaking off; he put in a ton of work over the winter to have a bounce-back year in 2026.
“No time to relax, definitely, because the season that I had last year, it was not my best season. I just went home and then basically no time to relax, I just went right to work. And just to work on the stuff that I was having trouble last year and work on my body again. But definitely no time to relax. Just focus on what I need to do to get better,” said Cruz through his interpreter.
While Cruz definitely needs to focus on himself to make some improvements, he should also be in a better position this season, considering all of the reinforcements the Pirates have added to the lineup.
The last few seasons, Cruz has beent he only true power threat in Pittsburgh’s lineup. Now, the Pirates have Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, who will add some protection for the still young slugger.
Hopefully, with more proven bats in the lineup, Cruz will see more pitches to hit, since teams can’t simply pitch around him.
Outside of improving his stats on the field, Cruz also said he feels 2026 could be the season he takes a leap and becomes a true leader for the Pirates.
“At one point, I think I could be the right the leader out there on the field,” continued Cruz. “All they have to do is just lead by sample on the field and show them the right way and that's how a leader, like, becomes a leader just to go out there and show that he can do it every day day in and day out.”
With all the work Cruz has put in over the winter, and having more veterans in the lineup, Cruz could truly be in store for a bounce-back year and his best season in the big leagues yet.
Pirates Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.