Morning Rundown: Oneil Cruz to participate in Home Run Derby, Pirates lose fifth straight
Cruz hits a home run, will participate in HR Derby.
Oneil Cruz hits the ball harder than anyone else in baseball. He’ll get to show how hard he can hit during the All-Star break, as he will be competing in the 2025 Home Run Derby.
On the same day, he hit a home run 115 mph off the bat against the Kansas City Royals. Cruz is currently in the 100th percentile when it comes to average exit velocity, barrel rate, and bat speed.
The current participants he will be facing are Ronald Acuna Jr., Cal Raleigh, James Wood, and Byron Buxton.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ losing streak is now at five games after losing to the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, on Tuesday. A Nick Loftin RBI single scored Maikel Garcia in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Royals the win.
Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales hit home runs for the Pirates, who are now 38-55 on the season.
Mitch Keller allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out five over 6.2 innings pitched.
Bailey Falter will pitch for the Pirates in the series finale, as they will look to avoid a second straight series sweep. The Royals will have Kris Bubic on the mound, with a scheduled first pitch of 7:40 pm ET.
Bucs on Deck: Pittsburgh Pirates Top 30 Midseason Update
We are past the halfway mark of the 2025 minor league season, and it seems like a perfect time for an update on our Top Prospect list, which has been expanded to 30 players.
We are running a special where you can get 30% off a yearly subscription when you upgrade to a paid membership.
Not only do you gain access to our Top 30 scouting reports and 2025 updates, but also video breakdowns and player features, as well as live reports from my travels to minor league games.
Ryan Borucki began a rehab assignment with the Bradenton Marauders on Tuesday, pitching an inning against the St. Lucie Mets. He threw 10 pitches, six of which went for strikes.
He was placed on the injured list on June 21 with lower back inflammation.
In 29 games this season for the Pirates, Borucki has posted a 5.26 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 25.2 IP.
Greensboro Grasshoppers sent LHP Magdiel Cotto on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders
Pittsburgh Pirates sent LHP Ryan Borucki on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders
Indianapolis Indians sent 1B Darick Hall on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders
DSL Pirates activated RHP Eydan Fermin from the 7-day injured list
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled RF Jack Suwinski from Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Colin Holderman to Indianapolis Indians
Top Exit Velocity
Oneil Cruz - 115.6 mph - Home Run
Bryan Reynolds - 110.1 mph - Lineout
Ronny Simon - 108.1 mph - Double
Ji Hwan Bae - 107.9 mph - Triple
Ian Farrow - 107.6 mph - Home Run
Ke’Bryan Hayes - 107.6 mph - Double
Top Pitch Velocity
Kyle Nicolas - IND - 99.1 mph
Eddy Yean - IND - 99 mph
Eddy Yean - IND - 99 mph
Eddy Yean - IND - 98.8 mph
Kyle Nicolas - IND - 98.6 mph
Most Whiffs
Clevari Tejada - BRD - 13
Mitch Keller - PIT - 8
Julian Bosnic - GBO - 8
Valentin Linarez - ALT - 5
Thomas Harrington - IND - 4
Hung-Leng Chang - GBO - 4
Support the site by becoming a paid member, and get access to all of our premium content, including our Top 25 list with complete player write-ups and video breakdowns, which come out weekly.
It will also give access to my player feature articles from on-site trips.
We have monthly and yearly plans available, with the latter costing an average of $4.16/month.
Indianapolis Indians - 8 vs Gwinnett Stripers - 1
Top Hitter - Ji Hwan Bae: 3-4, R, RBI, BB, 2B, 3B
Top Pitcher - Thomas Harrington: 6 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 3 vs Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Top Hitter - Mitch Jebb: 2-4, R, SB
Top Pitcher - Valentin Linarez: 2.1 IP, H, 4 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 2 vs Bowling Green Hot Rod - 4
Top Hitter - Derek Berg: 1-3, R, RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Jack Carey: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Bradenton Marauders - 11 vs St. Lucie Mets - 4
Top Hitter - Richard Ramirez: 3-4, R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Top Pitcher - Clevari Tejada: 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K
FCL Pirates - 9 vs FCL Red Sox - 4
Top Hitter - Estuar Suero: 3-5, 3 R, RBI, HR, 2 2B
Top Pitcher - Cesar Aquino: 2.1 IP, K
DSL Pirates Black - 7 vs DSL Arizona Black - 6
Top Hitter - Victor Marquez: 2-3, R, RBI, BB, SB
Top Pitcher - Hader Blanco: 3.1 IP, K
DSL Pirates Gold - 1 vs DSL Orioles - 2
Top Hitter - Joseph Sequera: 0-2, BB, 2 SB
Top Pitcher - Yonleg Gaetano: 2.1 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 K
Guess we don’t really have to worry about him potentially messing up his swing for the rest of the season. Let it rip kid.
Teenage girl and mom came into the library I work at earlier. Randomly are Pirate fans despite living in South Carolina. Tell the girl hopefully one day she has her own Cueto moment. Let's hope we all have another of those ourselves.