Oneil Cruz has been in the big leagues for a short period of time, but he's been around long enough to know what he wants to get out of spring training. This is a time of year when all the work a player put in during the offseason can truly be put to the test before the games begin to matter at the end of March and into April. 

"I've definitely been putting to work all the stuff during spring training," Cruz said via interpreter and major-league coach Stephen Morales. "It's a big part of preseason, and after two years of being in the big leagues, I think spring training is the place that you come and put everything together and get ready for the season."

While Cruz has put in work this offseason and spring to further improve his defensive skills out in center field, he's also worked to make sure he continues to make progress at the plate. He's certainly looked to be in midseason form over his last three games, as he's homered twice, including in the Pirates' 7-6 win over the Blue Jays at LECOM Park Wednesday afternoon.

Cruz walked in his first two plate appearances of the day before working his way back into a 2-2 count after watching a first-pitch curveball sail over the plate and swinging through a changeup on the outside edge. Cruz got another changeup on the outer portion of the plate from Jake Bloss and didn't miss, sending it out on a line to center for a three-run homer that made it 4-1 in favor of the Pirates in the fifth inning. 

"Just putting together all the work in the cage and it feels good to connect well and get that timing again off the rhythm of the hitter during these games," Cruz said. "Definitely a really good game. I took really good pitches, I was patient. I took my walks and I was able to connect. It was a really good day, offensively."

Derek Shelton was even more impressed by Cruz's approach during the two at-bats that ended in walks. Cruz refused to go out of the zone to swing at back-to-back pitches after evening the count at 2-2 in his first at-bat and then remained patient when Bloss threw him nothing but pitches out of the zone in his second at-bat. 

"He continues to get better. I mean, you go back to the two at-bats he had earlier where he didn't go out of the zone, 3-2 he didn't go out of the zone, 3-1, and then he gets himself in a good count there and is able to execute his swing," Shelton said. "But I think we just continue to see him make strides offensively." 

In addition to putting in the work necessary to improve as an overall player, Cruz said it matters to have veteran guys in the clubhouse like Andrew McCutchen to provide guidance when needed. Cruz has picked McCutchen's brain about the strike zone and how to approach certain situations, and has found immense value in it. 

"After different pitchers and stuff, I think it helps a lot to have another year under my belt and having guys that have done it before," Cruz said. "For example, going back to last year, when he told me at one point during the season to just stop swinging at every pitch. Just to focus on the strike zone, on the part I know I can do damage on and don't be swinging at pitches all around the strike zone. Just be more selective when it comes to hitting."

A few other notes: 

• Joey Bart is another regular bat who has seemingly found a rhythm over the last few days. He went 2 for 2 with a homer against the Yankees in Tampa on Monday night and, on this day, went 2 for 3 with a homer, a single and a lengthy 11-pitch at-bat that ultimately ended in a strikeout, but would have been incredibly valuable had this been a regular season game.

"Let's go to the 11-pitch at-bat. You've got one of the better pitchers in the American League in (Kevin) Gausman, just to be able to run him up. I mean, if that's a regular season game, all the sudden you've made a starter, a guy that's a No. 1, go from a quick inning to 23, 24 pitches," Derek Shelton said. "But overall, it looks like he's seeing the ball and he's not trying to do too much, which (is) indicative of the homer he hit and where he hit it." 

• Mitch Keller pitched into the fourth inning for the first time this spring. He allowed one run on a hit and three walks with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. He threw 36 of 62 pitches for strikes.

"We just got to get him lengthened out. I think early on he struggled a little bit with his command and was missing arm side. But I thought he dialed in," Shelton said. "It's the best changeup he's thrown all spring and was able to -- I mean, even the last strikeout -- to be able to execute it, that's a really positive sign." 

• Adam Frazier hasn't been in the lineup since Feb. 26 and Shelton said he's been dealing with a bit of a back issue. They've been conservative with him and Shelton expects him to be back in the lineup later this week.