Buccos Cove

One of the hottest prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization right now is shortstop Oneil Cruz. Cruz is currently on fire at Double-A Altoona, but how soon should the Pirates be thinking of calling him up. In the middle of a rebuild, the 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates are right about where we thought they would be, in the basement of the NL Central. With more trades coming in July, Ben Cherington is looking to continue to add talent to the Pirates farm system to help build the team from the ground up. Because of this, fans have once again turned to the Minor Leagues to see what the future holds for the Pirates and if the rebuild is truly working. If you look in the Minor Leagues now, one name you are almost certain to see pop up is shortstop Oneil Cruz. The 22-year-old prospect is ranked #4 overall in the Pirates system and is hitting the ball all over the ballpark in Double-A. After a slow start, Cruz has turned things around and in 122 at-bats is hitting .303 with a team-...

After all of the off-the-field distractions last season, Oneil Cruz is looking to put it all behind him and get back to baseball in 2021. The 6'7 infielder looks to finally break through to the Big Leagues and make an impact on the Pirates this season. The 2020-2021 off-season is one that Oneil Cruz probably wants to forget. It started with him being involved in a crash in the Dominican Republic that killed three people. There were thoughts that drunk driving was involved, and an investigation was launched, but it was discovered no alcohol was involved. He headed to the Dominican Winter League to get his mind off the events of the off-season and just get back to baseball. Now, with Spring Training kicking off this week, Cruz can officially focus on making his Big League Debut in 2021. Where that debut will happen is still in question, as the idea of both shortstop and outfield have both been bounced around. Last season, Cruz spent the year at the Pirates Alternate Train...

2021 is here, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to grow from their disastrous 2020 season. It will be the young Bucs leading the way as a new generation of Pirates baseball begins inside PNC Park. The clock has officially turned to 2021, and for Pirates fans, that means hope for a better future. What's done is done, and the Pirates can only go up from here after finishing 2020 with a 19-41 record that had them last in the Major Leagues. 2021 will be a different year for the Pirates, and it is a transformation that has already begun as the Pirates traded first baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals on Christmas Eve. The names will be different in 2021, with more moves to be made, as the team ushers in a new era of baseball as they try to get back to the playoffs. However, there will be a transitional period as the Pirate's top prospects begin to develop. For some, it will happen faster than others, but the goal is to have everyone ready for a winning run ...

As we await the start of the 2020 MLB season due to Corona Virus concerns, we will take a look at every player on the Pirates roster and outline what they will bring to the table and projections for the 2020 season. I hope this brings some positive reading to the current situation and helps us all as we wait for baseball. A few seasons ago, the shortstop position was one that lacked depth for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Entering the 2016 season, their only Major League ready option was Jordy Mercer and Cole Tucker was the best promising prospect, but he was still in Class A Bradenton at the time. That is when the Pirates got to work, selling off some of their top pieces to rebuild for the next Pirates playoff runs. While many fans weren't happy with the trades that took place, the moves were all made to ensure the Pirates had the depth they need to ensure success for many years. One of the pieces the Pirates acquirred during that sale of players was shortstop Oneil Cruz. Cr...