O’Neal Cruz’s Transformation This Offseason
O’Neal Cruz showed up to spring training in what many would call the best shape of his life, and along with that, he’s sporting a new hairstyle. After a tough year, he’s determined to turn things around.
The Pirates outfielder looks noticeably more muscular these days and has opted for a shorter haircut, departing from his usual dreadlocks as he embarks on his sixth MLB season.
In a recent game against the Yankees, he went 1-for-3 with a hit and even stole a base, though the team lost 6-2.
“Last year wasn’t my best season,” Cruz reflected during the offseason. He mentioned that he went straight home to work on his weaknesses and focus on conditioning, saying, “There’s no time to relax. I just focus on what I need to do to get better.”
Now at 27, Cruz is hoping to rebound after last season, which was particularly rough—he had one of the lowest batting averages in the league.
Historically, he has a .233 batting average and a .734 OPS, but last year, he dropped to a .200 average with a .676 OPS over 135 games, racking up a staggering 174 strikeouts, which is about 32 percent of his at-bats.
According to stats, his .200 average placed him at the bottom of 145 eligible batters.
On a brighter note, he matched Juan Soto for the most stolen bases in the National League, swiping 38 bags. His offseason transformation, which included shedding his dreadlocks—something he had been planning for months—has certainly turned heads.
Cruz even video-called former Pirate Andrew McCutchen to share his new look. McCutchen’s reaction was positive, telling him he looked “a lot better” and “more handsome.”
But despite the physical changes, questions remain. Cruz still needs to enhance his performance, particularly against left-handers, where he struggled mightily last season.
His numbers against lefties were alarming: he hit just .102 with a .224 on-base percentage and .176 slugging percentage, totaling 44 strikeouts in 125 at-bats. Over his career, his record against southpaws isn’t much better, standing at a .172 average with a .560 OPS.
While other players also experience similar splits, having poor productivity could force younger players like Cruz into platoon roles, which might hinder their financial prospects.
There was a glimmer of hope during Monday’s game when he singled in the first inning off Yankees pitcher Ryan Yarbrough, but he couldn’t maintain momentum, striking out in his last two at-bats.
“Last year wasn’t as good against lefties as the year before,” he noted in January. He’s been working hard on facing left-handed pitching in the Dominican Republic to improve his performance.
On the defensive side, Cruz also needs to step up. He finished the previous season with a career-low defensive goal save indicator of minus 14, down from minus 3 in 2024.
A successful bounce-back season could be crucial for the Pirates as they aim to compete in the National League Central, especially with the emergence of Paul Skeens.
Reflecting on his defensive struggles, Cruz mentioned needing to improve aspects like speed and reaction time. “I knew I had to get better. I worked on that a lot. I think I’m in a better position now,” he stated confidently.
