Oneil Cruz
Breakdown
Performance
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July 7, 2026
Resumes swinging bat
Cruz (hand) has resumed swinging a bat, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
Cruz continues to ramp up his baseball activities as he works his way back from a fractured left hand. He still has more boxes to check, but Cruz is tracking toward a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break and a return before the end of July if he continues on his current trajectory.
July 6, 2026
Still trending toward July return
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Cruz (hand) is progressing well and will hopefully return from the 10-day injured list at some point shortly after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis
After shedding the cast on his fractured left hand, Cruz reported to the Pirates' facility in Florida last week to resume baseball activities. He looks poised to remain in Florida through at least the upcoming week to continue the ramp-up process, and if all goes well, Cruz could be ready for a rehab assignment once minor-league games resume following the All-Star break. The Pirates remain optimistic that Cruz will be ready to come off the IL before the end of July.