PITTSBURGH -- Friday marked exactly two months since Oneil Cruz last played in a baseball game, pinch-running on June 7 at Atlanta. After an MRI days later revealed non-displaced fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpals in his left hand, Cruz was sidelined on the injured list.
The Pirates’ star center fielder returned to action for his first rehab assignment on Friday night, going 0-for-1 with two walks at Triple-A Indianapolis. He walked on six pitches in his first plate appearance before walking on five pitches his next time up.
“Pumped to get him back in Indy started on the rehab assignment,” manager Don Kelly said Friday before the Pirates' 6-4 loss to the Mets at PNC Park. “Not sure on the timeline yet. We're gonna take it day by day. See how he's doing. He's gonna need some at-bats. It's been two months since he's been down, so we're gonna take it day by day. And just really excited to get him back on the road to being back here in Pittsburgh with us.”
Cruz injured the hand on June 6 on a slide into home plate. He was entered into the lineup a few days later before being scratched and ultimately placed on the 10-day injured list.
Cruz was having his best season yet, producing an .822 OPS with 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 64 games. In his absence, Jake Mangum has excelled, yet the productivity of Cruz showed a 40-homer, 60-steal pace. He was moved to the 60-day IL on July 18, making him eligible to come off the IL on Aug. 14 at the earliest.
Cruz finally had the chance to put the ball in play in the fifth inning, but he popped up to second base. He exited after seven innings.
“Ups and downs,” Kelly said. “Anytime you're dealing with a hand injury, there's going to be things that are really good, and then there's going to be some things that guys are going to feel. And he's worked hard through all of it and is in a really good spot to start rehab tonight.”