Multiple Fractures For Oneil Cruz, And Pittsburgh Has Zero Answers Right Now
Yo, 12s, what a night for our M's! Another W in the books, a solid 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park. You love to see it! But while we're still buzzing from that win, there's some wild stuff happening out in the league we gotta talk about. Big updates dropped on a few Pittsburgh Pirates guys, and honestly, for one of their top talents, the news is flat-out brutal. It’s a stark reminder that even in June, injuries can just wreck a team’s whole vibe.
Scare Averted, Rookie on the Way Back!
First up, some good news, or at least a massive sigh of relief. Pirates right-hander Jared Jones got absolutely drilled in his right elbow by a line drive from TJ Rumfield on Sunday, pulled after just three innings. Everyone was holding their breath! But get this: initial imaging came back negative! BOOM! He'll get another examination tomorrow, but that's a huge dodged bullet. The dude was having a decent outing at Coors Field, striking out three and only giving up one hit, even working out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the second, giving up just one run. This was his fifth start since Tommy John, and while he's only hit 77 pitches and completed five innings once, he still lowered his ERA to 5.75. That's some grit.
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And check this out: GM Ben Cherington also dropped positive news on rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin. This kid has been on the injured list all of June with an elbow strain, but he's making serious progress! Cherington says Griffin could start a rehab assignment by the end of next week. Remember, this kid debuted as a 19-year-old and has been a league-average bat, which is crazy impressive. He’s already blasted four home runs and swiped 14 bases, rocking an .820 OPS in May before his injury. Utilityman Jared Triolo has been filling in, slashing just .231/.344/.288 in June, and he's been a neutral defender. Griffin, with 3 Defensive Runs Saved, is gonna be a massive upgrade on both offense and defense when he's back. Serious shot in the arm for them!
The Brutal Truth About Oneil Cruz's Hand
Now, for the gut punch. The news on outfielder Oneil Cruz? Not good, folks. GM Cherington confirmed Cruz has yet to resume any baseball activities. We're talking multiple fractures in his hand here, and he's been out for about two weeks. The worst part? There’s no clear recovery timeline. He’s got a meeting with the Pittsburgh medical staff tomorrow to figure out what the heck is going on and when he might even be able to start thinking about a return. Ouch.
With Cruz sidelined, it’s mostly been Jake Mangum out in center field. Mangum, an offseason trade acquisition, is actually having his best month as a Pirate, hitting .346 with five steals in June. So he's producing at the plate. But let's be real, defensively, Mangum might be better suited for a corner outfield spot. He’s posted -2 DRS in 125 innings in center. And honestly, it seems like the Pirates are just used to subpar defense out there; Cruz himself has clocked a brutal -26 DRS over the last three seasons. Still, losing a bat with Cruz’s potential, and having no idea when he’s coming back, that’s a tough pill to swallow for any team trying to stay competitive.
Man, injuries are no joke, especially mid-season. It’s a real reminder of how quickly things can flip for any team. For us here in the Emerald City, let's just be stoked on that W our Mariners snagged tonight. Every pitch, every swing, every game matters. Keep that energy high, 12s, and let's ride that wave! Go M's!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.