ATLANTA -- ​​The Pirates started five rookies for the second time this season on Friday at Truist Park, and the team could add another new face in the coming weeks. 

Oneil Cruz, MLB Pipeline's No. 22 overall prospect, is the player that Pittsburgh fans have been waiting for to make a splash among the rookies at the Major League level. But the team doesn't want to hasten his development until he's fully ready.

John Baker, director of coaching and player development, spoke about the noise the team has heard about Cruz's promotion ahead of the Pirates' 4-2 loss to Atlanta, but emphasized patience to ensure that the timing is right. 

“We want Oneil Cruz to be positioned to be the most impactful Major League player that he can possibly be," Baker said, “and sometimes, it just takes what it takes to get him there. And I think it's hard for the whole organization, too, because we love Oneil. We love what he can do, but we want to make sure that we've checked every box, dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’ to put him in the best position to be incredibly successful.”

On Sept. 29, 2021, Roansy Contreras made his Major League debut, and only three days later, Cruz joined him. This year, Contreras -- who tossed 4 2/3 innings for the Pirates on Friday while giving up four runs (three earned) and striking out seven -- earned the call early, making his season debut on April 9 while Cruz stayed at Triple-A Indianapolis. But it’s not a race, especially with both players on personalized development plans.

“The guys are competitive with each other, but at the end of the day, it’s a fine line to walk,” Baker said. “You want to be competitive with the people that you’re playing with, but you also need to keep rooting for them.”

Pittsburgh is well aware of the athletic ability that the 23-year-old shortstop has, but his development may lie more in enriching the intangibles than his actual production on the field. The Dominican Republic native is currently on a 13-game on-base streak, with a hit in 12 of those games including six home runs and five multihit games.

"Oneil got challenged by the Major League staff with being locked in and focused and hustling all the time, and he’s met that challenge," Baker said. "We’ve never seen a 6-foot-7 shortstop play Major League Baseball, so there’s no playbook or blueprint on developing somebody like that.

"The messaging has been very consistent. It’s just more of the same is what we need to see from Oneil. Those gradual improvements in throwing accuracy and ball security; when those reach the right threshold, then I think Oneil’s a contributing Major League player with a chance to be a star."

But there may be a reason for the Pirates not bringing up the left-handed slugger at the given moment. Of the five starters in Friday's loss to the Braves, Diego Castillo is the only player to make his debut with Pittsburgh away from PNC Park. Even Jack Suwinski, who was on the bench and would've been the sixth rookie in the starting lineup, made his debut at home. With all the noise from Pirates faithful, broadcasters and baseball fans asking for the callup, it could be a nice treat for yet another rookie to show his face for the first time in front of the adoring fans.

"It's kind of like Christmas," Baker said. "You want the present. I think about being a kid and you want the present and you want to open it up. We hear it from the fans. I know what the fans want in Pittsburgh is winning baseball, and that's what I'm trying to help create in my position.

"They did get to see him last year hit a ball over the Clemente Wall for a homer, again, on a pitch that he probably shouldn't have swung at. I think when the time is right, whether at home or on the road, he'll be here, and I think it will just be a bonus if it's at PNC."