KCB
Oneil Cruz, IF
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Scouting report
Cruz was at the wheel during a fatal car accident in the Dominican Republic last fall and was subsequently arrested for suspicion of drunk driving and released on bail. Cruz's legal representation and the Pirates have denied that alcohol was involved. Reporting from Jason Mackey at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette indicates, "According to a spokeswoman at the district attorney’s office in the Dominican Republic, Oneil Cruz smelled of alcohol. However, due to what she described as a 'procedural error,' no on-site sobriety test was performed." It's a tragic and murky situation hanging over one of the more interesting prospects in the sport. Cruz slides from last year's ranking because his approach remains a real problem. He has elite raw power and arm strength, and unusual athleticism for someone his size, but he won't hit unless he makes better swing decisions than he has for the last 18 months. Cruz is among the most gifted players in the sport, and has a penthouse ceiling but a subterranean floor. He could be Aaron Judge or Jairo Beras. (Alternate site, LIDOM)