Oneil Cruz has started 2026 on a tear. And in the Pirates' 16-5 win over the Nationals Monday night at PNC Park, he was in the middle of all the action.
Cruz extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games, going 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, two walks and a stolen base. After Monday night's performance, Cruz is now slashing .355/.429/.645 with five home runs (tied for seventh in MLB), 16 RBIs (tied for fifth in MLB) and his seven stolen bases trail only Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. (eight). His 1.074 OPS is also fifth in MLB, as well.
Brandon Lowe, who's made his own mark offensively this season, is having a lot of fun hitting right behind Cruz in the lineup on most nights.
"It's pretty fun to hit after a guy who hits the ball 113. It gets the crowd real loud and stuff like that," Lowe said of Cruz. "To watch his at-bats, to see the maturity he has with the power and everything else he's got going for him, he's going to be a lot of fun to hit behind this year."
THE ASYLUM
Cruz stays red hot
Oneil Cruz has started 2026 on a tear. And in the Pirates' 16-5 win over the Nationals Monday night at PNC Park, he was in the middle of all the action.
Cruz extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games, going 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, two walks and a stolen base. After Monday night's performance, Cruz is now slashing .355/.429/.645 with five home runs (tied for seventh in MLB), 16 RBIs (tied for fifth in MLB) and his seven stolen bases trail only Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. (eight). His 1.074 OPS is also fifth in MLB, as well.
Brandon Lowe, who's made his own mark offensively this season, is having a lot of fun hitting right behind Cruz in the lineup on most nights.
"It's pretty fun to hit after a guy who hits the ball 113. It gets the crowd real loud and stuff like that," Lowe said of Cruz. "To watch his at-bats, to see the maturity he has with the power and everything else he's got going for him, he's going to be a lot of fun to hit behind this year."
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