Rafael Cruz’s son, Oneil Cruz, is a Dominican professional baseball player who made his MLB debut on October 2, 2021. He plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Oneil was born on October 4, 1998, in Nizao, Dominican Republic. He is 26 years old as of 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Homer Cruz played baseball for the Chicago White Sox, and Rafael Cruz Jr. played for Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
- Homer and Rafel have an age gap of 4 years.
- Oneil and Rafael play shortstop baseball positions, whereas Homer plays right-hand pitcher.
The professional baseball player appeared in two Major League games in the 2021 season and hit his first home run on October 3 in Pittsburgh.
He began his baseball journey as an international free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a $950,000 signing bonus in July 2015.
However, on July 31, 2017, the Dodgers traded Oneil to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Tony Watson. Pirates assigned to the West Virginia Power, where he earned South Atlantic League All-Star honors in 2018.
On August 24, 2022, he hit the hardest-hit ball recorded at 122.4 miles per hour (197.0 km/h) in the Statcast era against Atlanta Braves pitcher Kyle Wright.
Pittsburgh Pirates Oneil Cruz Siblings: Brother Homer Cruz hasn’t been drafted after his release from ACL White Sox
Oneil Cruz, the son of retired minor leaguer Rafael Cruz, is the eldest. He grew up with his siblings, Homer and Rafael Cruz Jr.
Homer Cruz was born on September 9, 1999, in Nizao, Dominican Republic. He is 25 years old as of 2024.
He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox on October 31, 2018, and was assigned to the DSL White Sox on May 31, 2019.
Likewise, RHP Homer was assigned to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers from the DSL White Sox on June 15, 2021, and to the ACL White Sox on July 5, 2021.
Cruz Homer Propels Mariners to Win Over White Sox https://t.co/LOZmkK6SEi #chicago pic.twitter.com/uDzXM1rkQi
— Chicago News Now (@chicagonewsnow) July 16, 2017
Moreover, he was re-assigned to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on May 22, 2022, and to ACL White Sox on June 5, 2022.
Homer played in the Dominican Summer League as a Right-hand pitcher, but ACL White Sox released him on August 8, 2022.
SS Rafael Cruz Jr showing skills in Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
Rafael Cruz Jr. was born in Nizao, Dominican Republic, on November 13, 2003. He is 21 years old as of 2024.
His baseball career started on January 15, 2021, when the Minnesota Twins signed him to a minor league contract. He played shortstop for the Minnesota Twins and was assigned to DSL Twin on July 10, 2021.
Similarly, Rafael was assigned to DSL AL All-Stars on July 23, 2022, and FCL Twins from DSL Twins on July 26, 2022.
The Minnesota Twins changed his roster status on March 9, 2023, and assigned him to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels on May 9, 2023.
When he isn’t on the field or at the gym, Oneil is always on the phone with his father and siblings. The three brothers have a close bond and play professional baseball.
FAQ’s
How many stolen bases does Oneil Cruz have?
Pittsburgh Pirate’s Oneil Cruz holds 13 stolen bases and 19 home runs through 98 total major-league games.
Is Oneil Cruz out for the year?
Oneil Cruz is pain-free and ready to go in 2024. He missed nearly all of the 2023 Season due to breaking his leg.
What is Oneil Cruz’s height and weight?
Oneil Cruz stands 6 feet and 7 inches and weighs about 98 kg. He is unusually tall for a shortstop baseball position.
