Pirates broadcasters slam Oneil Cruz's defensive effort vs Mets

Pittsburgh Pirates halfway fielder Oneil Cruz has travel nether occurrence for his protect effort early successful nan play arsenic nan squad has dropped 2 of its first 3 games to commencement nan 2026 season.

On Sunday, Cruz heard it from Pirates broadcasters Greg Brown and Matt Capps. In a 1-1 crippled against nan New York Mets successful nan bottommost of nan 2nd inning, Cruz caught a alert shot for nan 2nd retired of nan inning arsenic baserunner Brett Baty considered tagging up to caput to second.

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Pittsburgh Pirates halfway fielder Oneil Cruz (15) catches a popular alert by New York Mets 2nd baseman Marcus Semien (not pictured) during nan 2nd inning astatine Citi Field connected March 29, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Capps and Brown were not thrilled pinch Cruz’s effort.

"You do want to spot a small much enthusiasm to get nan shot in," Capps said.

"A small lackadaisical connected Cruz’s part," Brown added.

Cruz vanished nan crippled 1-for-4 pinch a tally scored arsenic nan Pirates defeated nan Mets 4-3 successful 10 innings. But done 3 games, Cruz has already been a root of consternation for Pirates fans.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders Oneil Cruz, left, Jake Mangum, center, and Billy Cook observe aft a shot crippled against nan New York Mets, Sunday, March 29, 2026, successful New York.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

He made a bad protect play successful nan first crippled of nan season pinch Paul Skenes connected nan mound. Skenes was dealing pinch nan bases loaded successful nan bottommost of nan first inning connected Thursday erstwhile Baty deed a shot complete Cruz’s head.

Cruz started to move guardant earlier he realized nan shot was going to sail complete his head. It allowed much runs connected nan committee and Skenes grounded to make it done nan first.

He was benched for nan 2nd crippled of nan play and only utilized successful a pinch-hit role.

"Just nan sun was correct successful beforehand of my face," he told reporters astir nan Opening Day mistake, via SNY. "You don’t want those things to happen, but it was really uncomfortable coming to person nan sun correct successful beforehand of my face. I tried my best, but it was kinda tough."

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz (15) runs to first for a azygous during nan first inning of an opening-day shot crippled against nan New York Mets, Thursday, March 26, 2026, successful New York.  (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

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Pittsburgh is 1-2 to statesman nan year.

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