**Title:** Oneil Cruz Faces Challenges Amid Struggles with Pirates
**Meta Description:** Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz is facing difficulties on the field, struggling with errors and batting performance this season.
**URL Slug:** oneil-cruz-pirates-struggles
**Headline:** Oneil Cruz’s Recent Struggles Highlight Challenges for the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates star Oneil Cruz has encountered a challenging stretch in recent games, raising concerns among fans and management alike. Last week, Cruz’s lackadaisical effort following a passed ball in center field drew criticism, and on Tuesday, he was pulled from the game after losing track of outs.
Pirates manager Don Kelly made the decision to remove Cruz after he failed to hustle down the line on a double-play grounder against the Milwaukee Brewers, resulting in a 6-4-3 double play. Kelly cited “energy and effort going down the line” as the reason for the substitution. Cruz acknowledged the decision, stating through an interpreter, “DK had all the rights to do what he did, and I’ll back him up on that. It was my fault because I thought there were two outs in that situation. That’s why I let off running to first base.” Following the incident, Kelly and Cruz had a discussion to clarify expectations moving forward.
Cruz’s struggles have not been limited to base running; he also made an outfield error against the Texas Rangers, misjudging a ball that rolled to the fence in the first inning. Compounding his difficulties, Cruz’s batting performance has not met expectations. This month, he has a batting average of .156 with 31 strikeouts, bringing his overall average to .211 with an OPS of .736 and 13 home runs. Despite leading the National League with 26 stolen bases, he also leads Major League Baseball with 101 strikeouts.
Kelly commented on Cruz’s current state, saying, “He’s struggling at the plate right now. It’s difficult when you’re going through that and trying to figure it out. He’s working hard to do that. We need to ensure that his offensive struggles do not affect his defense and base running.”
Cruz, however, believes that his base running issues are separate from his batting slump. He noted the importance of effort, saying, “They’re a really good example. They always run hard. They always go out there to do their 100%. That’s a teaching point for me. I accepted the way DK came to me and explained it.”
The Pirates’ recent loss to the Brewers marked their record at 32-48 for the season, with a 20-22 record since Kelly took over as manager.
**FAQ:**
**Q: What has been affecting Oneil Cruz’s performance this season?**
A: Oneil Cruz has struggled with both his batting average and fielding errors, leading to concerns about his overall performance on the field.
