Cruz impresses with defensive prowess

As the Pirates monitored the progress of Oneil Cruz at Class AAA Indianapolis, a key bullet point was how the 6foot-7 shortstop was developing his defense. The position is difficult for anyone, but especially someone with his body type. They also wanted him to try playing some outfield. To be fair, reports did indicate progress.

But this much?

While Cruz has arrived as advertised with incredible physical tools, crazy exit velocities and blazing speed, the defense has been a pleasant surprise — for fans and manager Derek Shelton, who was one of those closely monitoring how Cruz was handling himself in the field.

“He’s moved his feet really well,” Shelton said. “Overall, he’s done a nice job.”

After Cruz fired a 96.7 mph missile in his season debut — the fastest ball any infielder throughout Major League Baseball has thrown this year — he delivered another highlight during Thursday’s 8-7, 10-inning walk-off victory over the Cubs at PNC Park.

The play occurred in the top of the seventh inning. With one out and Nico Hoerner on second base, Cruz ranged to his left on a ball hit by Cubs right fielder Nelson Velazquez. After making a terrific, full-extension stop, Cruz gathered his sizable frame, hopped to his feet, set them and delivered a strike to Michael Chavis for the out.

It would’ve been an impressive play for anyone — but more so given his build.

That wasn’t it, either. A sneaky-important play from Cruz came in the eighth inning, when he had to scoop a throw from Chavis on a ball hit by Ian Happ.

Whether they’ve been spectacular or routine plays, it’s hard to say Cruz’s defense has been an issue to this point. Not even close.

“He has moved his feet better than I expected, and that’s a credit to him,” Shelton said. “It sounds like over the last two or three weeks in Indy, that’s been something that had been a primary focus. It shows that [Class AAA Indianapolis bench coach Gary Green] has done a really good job with him there.”

Decisive play

Although Cubs catcher Willson Contreras carries himself in a way that often irritates opposing teams, the Pirates didn’t have an issue with how he handled the decisive play at the plate involving

Ke’Bryan Hayes. Shelton described it as “borderline.”

It could be argued Contreras didn’t give Hayes a clear lane to slide — something the Cubs argued for (unsuccessfully) with Patrick Wisdom in the top half of the 10th — but it’s also true he was reacting to a throw from right field.

If anything, the way Contreras moved exposed him to more injury risk than Hayes encountered. It was also a bang-bang play.

“It was an aggressive baseball play,” Shelton said. “It was an aggressive slide by ‘Key.’ I don’t think there was any intent at all on that play.”

Speaking of Hayes, it might be the last time he slides into home head-first. Shelton said he understood why Hayes did what he did. At the same time, it’s much easier to mitigate risk by going feet-first ... with really not a huge upside.

“If I’m voting, I’m going to vote that he does not slide head-first into the plate,” Shelton said.

Watching from the dugout, Chris Stratton cringed when Hayes slid. Stratton was a member of the Giants organization when the Buster Posey Rule went into effect, essentially trying to prevent collisions at the plate by establishing a set of rules for catchers and runners.

“It’s always scary,” Stratton said. “I always think about that stuff.”

Be like Mike

This has flown under the radar, but Chavis has been really good at first base. Prior to Thursday, he had been worth three defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs. Only one first baseman in the National League was worth more.

Traditionally, he has a 1.000 fielding percentage in 40 games (34 starts) at first base.

“When you get a middle infielder — he can play second base and does a nice job there — who has really good hands and you put him over there ... his actions have really worked over there,” Shelton said. “He’s worked hard at the picks. He made a couple nice picks [Thursday]. Overall, I think it’s just the way he moves his feet.”

In addition to picking balls out of the dirt, Chavis has done an excellent job making rangy plays while throwing accurately to bases. His flexibility has been an asset, too.

“I’m not the biggest first baseman, so I try to figure out how to make myself play up as much as I can,” Chavis said. “I tell the infielders, ‘If you keep it low, I’ll try my best to pick everything.’”