Pirates’ Oneil Cruz Ripped for Lack of Hustle After Bad Fielding Blunder

He didn't even try to make up for his mistake.

Screengrab on Twitter/ @TalkinBaseball_

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz drew the ire of baseball fans everywhere for his bad body language on one ugly play in Friday's game against the Texas Rangers.

In the first inning, Cruz tried to field the ball from Rangers' Sam Haggerty's single to center, but it slipped right under his glove. That's not what fans were most peeved at, however. It was what Cruz did—or didn't do, rather—afterward.

Following his fielding blunder, Cruz stood and nonchalantly watched the ball roll away for several seconds before right fielder Adam Frazier picked it up. Thanks to Cruz's error, Rangers' Josh Smith scored from first base and Haggerty got to third.

It was Cruz's league-leading seventh error in center field so far. An incriminating video of the moment showed the young star pretty much giving up on the play:

Oneil Cruz yikes... pic.twitter.com/vTGSjLc0QC

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 20, 2025

Not a good look at all.

Cruz went on to commit two other miscues in the 6-2 loss and went 0 for 5 at the plate. Though Cruz may have been upset with himself over his initial mistake, there's really no excuse for his lack of hustle, as he's more than showed off his speed this season with a career-high 25 stolen bases and counting.

Pirates manager Don Kelly frankly addressed Cruz's no-hustle play after the game:

"I think that all players deserve the opportunity to make the adjustments and have conversations like that," Kelly told Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "If it continues like that, then something that we’re going to have to address in a different way, but I thought he handled it well the rest of the game and played hard and did the things he was supposed to."

Still, fans couldn't believe Cruz's unbothered attitude and total lack of effort:

Today’s @MLB could do without this!👇🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/VGZ4zl1dIU

— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) June 21, 2025

This is a lifetime benching in Little League. https://t.co/fcq4BUr3Ds

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) June 21, 2025

He’d be coming to sit on the bench right next to me for the rest of the game. https://t.co/edZRCTeAjl

— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) June 21, 2025

It’s not that he misses it, it’s the body language after missing it.

Unprofessional. Unserious. https://t.co/YbBTKgiuet

— Penguins Jesus (@PenguinsJesus) June 20, 2025

Brutal look.

Oneil Cruz missed this ball in CF and didn’t even bother taking a step towards it once it got by him.

pic.twitter.com/oxTWrI6Mz8

— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) June 21, 2025

Oneil Cruz’s controller shut off mid play
pic.twitter.com/kLHFTyGNlT

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 20, 2025

Oneil Cruz made an error, and that happens to everyone. But to stand there and pout instead of chasing after the ball? Respect the game

— John Perrotto (@JPerrotto) June 20, 2025

I don't have a problem with Oneil Cruz missing the ball. Stuff happens. But you need to run after it.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) June 20, 2025

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