Overview
- Cruz drew on-air criticism from Pirates voices Greg Brown and Matt Capps on Sunday, with both urging more urgency and calling his effort “lackadaisical.”
- In the second inning at Citi Field, he caught a routine fly with Brett Baty on first base, then paused before throwing the ball back in, a delay the booth said could invite a tag to second.
- The scrutiny follows an Opening Day misplay on a ball that sailed over his head with Paul Skenes pitching, which Cruz later blamed on a blinding sun.
- The Pirates sat Cruz for the second game of the season and used him only as a pinch-hitter, then he returned in center field wearing sunglasses for Sunday’s day game.
- The reaction has spilled into fan criticism of owner Bob Nutting and team leadership, with the Pirates starting the year 1-2.