Pirates' Oneil Cruz Benched for Baserunning Blunder Against Brewers

In a game that left fans scratching their heads, Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz found himself benched after a baserunning blunder against the Milwaukee Brewers. Cruz grounded into a double play, but his lack of hustle down the line—due to losing track of the outs—prompted manager Don Kelly to pull him from the game. Kelly emphasized the importance of energy and effort, a message Cruz took to heart, admitting his mistake and backing his manager's decision.

This isn’t the first hiccup for Cruz recently. Last week, an outfield error against the Texas Rangers had already raised eyebrows when he misjudged a ball that rolled to the fence. Add to that a batting slump—hitting just .156 this month with a league-leading 101 strikeouts—and it’s clear the young star is struggling to find his rhythm. Despite this, Cruz insists his plate woes aren’t affecting his basepath focus.

Kelly acknowledged the challenges Cruz faces at bat but stressed the need to keep offensive struggles from spilling into defense and hustle. On a brighter note, Cruz still leads the National League with 26 stolen bases, showing flashes of the dynamic player he can be. The Pirates, however, couldn’t turn things around in the game, falling 9-3 to the Brewers, dropping their record to 32-48 this season.

For Cruz, this moment could be a turning point. With a willingness to learn from teammates who always give their all, there’s hope he’ll rebound stronger. Fans are certainly rooting for him to steal more than just bases—maybe some wins, too.