When Derek Shelton was asked about Oneil Cruz's fifth-inning home run Wednesday evening as he sat at his desk in the Pirates' clubhouse at Angel Stadium, his answer could've been summed up with one word: "Wow!"
But, Shelton expanded: "That ball was hit a long way. I’ve been in this ballpark a bunch of times and I’ve seen very few balls hit that far."
Just watch:
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz offered up a first-pitch slider to Cruz in the top of the fifth inning and Cruz sent it 463 feet with an exit velocity of 116.6 mph. It was the second longest home run Cruz has hit in his career and it gave the Pirates one of the three runs they needed to capture a 3-0 win over the Angels, their second of this six-game West Coast road trip.
"It felt like it was a long home run, but I don't think the longest one," Cruz said through interpreter and assistant coach Stephen Morales. "I think I hit the ball further before. But I connected really well."
Since returning from a three-game absence due to getting hit on the hand in an at-bat against the Cardinals on April 8, Cruz has been solid at the plate. He's gone hitless in just three of the Pirates' 10 games since April 13, has hit three home runs and tallied 11 hits, including two on this night.
Not only that, but Cruz has been a terror on the base paths for the Pirates as he leads all of Major League Baseball with 11 steals and recorded one more on this night. I asked Cruz what's been working for him at the plate, and as he's done in the past, he just pointed to his work.
"It's just hard work. The work, day in and day out and the focus on my work, like pregame. (with) (assistant hitting coach Christian) Marrero too," Cruz said. "Every day, just to put me in a good spot hitting wise."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
7:26 am - 04.24.2025ANAHEIM, CALIF.Mound Visit: Cruz's latest missile
When Derek Shelton was asked about Oneil Cruz's fifth-inning home run Wednesday evening as he sat at his desk in the Pirates' clubhouse at Angel Stadium, his answer could've been summed up with one word: "Wow!"
But, Shelton expanded: "That ball was hit a long way. I’ve been in this ballpark a bunch of times and I’ve seen very few balls hit that far."
Just watch:
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz offered up a first-pitch slider to Cruz in the top of the fifth inning and Cruz sent it 463 feet with an exit velocity of 116.6 mph. It was the second longest home run Cruz has hit in his career and it gave the Pirates one of the three runs they needed to capture a 3-0 win over the Angels, their second of this six-game West Coast road trip.
"It felt like it was a long home run, but I don't think the longest one," Cruz said through interpreter and assistant coach Stephen Morales. "I think I hit the ball further before. But I connected really well."
Since returning from a three-game absence due to getting hit on the hand in an at-bat against the Cardinals on April 8, Cruz has been solid at the plate. He's gone hitless in just three of the Pirates' 10 games since April 13, has hit three home runs and tallied 11 hits, including two on this night.
Not only that, but Cruz has been a terror on the base paths for the Pirates as he leads all of Major League Baseball with 11 steals and recorded one more on this night. I asked Cruz what's been working for him at the plate, and as he's done in the past, he just pointed to his work.
"It's just hard work. The work, day in and day out and the focus on my work, like pregame. (with) (assistant hitting coach Christian) Marrero too," Cruz said. "Every day, just to put me in a good spot hitting wise."
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