Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz is slated to participate in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night.
The 26-year-old is nursing a hip flexor injury, however, and his status for the pre-All-Star Game showcase is now in question.
Cruz was out of the starting lineup for the Pirates’ Sunday afternoon tilt against the Minnesota Twins. Cruz suffered the injury in the top of the eighth inning of Saturday’s 12-4 loss to the Twins, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Manager Don Kelly said ahead of Sunday’s contest that the slugger should be able to compete in the Home Run Derby, but the team would know more after the game.
Furthermore, Pittsburgh general manager Ben Cherington told 93.7 The Fan that Cruz had to be “physically ready” in order to take part in the Home Run Derby.
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The Pirates speedster is currently the betting favorite to win the event.
“I would think the benefit is to be in an environment where he is exposed to the very best in the game,” Cherington said, according to a report by Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan. “Exposed to the attention that comes along with that event and being around the best in the game. We’ve seen it, there are games where he takes over. There are games where he is clearly the best player on the field. For Oneil to be the best version of Oneil and for the Pirates to benefit from that, we are always trying to help him get to those games more consistently.”
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Cruz entered Sunday with 16 home runs, 37 RBI and a National League-leading 29 stolen bases, along with a .209/.318/.412 slash line across 306 at-bats in 84 games.
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