RADIO
Oneil Cruz Likely to Return After All-Star Break
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) will head to Florida this week to ramp up his baseball activity, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, Beazley also reports that Cherington said the team does not expect Cruz to return until after the All-Star Break. Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list in early June with multiple non-displaced fractures in his left hand. Across 283 plate appearances before getting injured, the 27-year-old hit .264/.350/.472 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. While it's positive news that Cruz is progressing, he appears to be at least a few weeks away from returning to the Pirates lineup. Once healthy, Cruz's elite power/speed profile makes him a high-end outfield option for fantasy managers.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Ryan O'Hearn Offers Potential Power Production Off the Waiver Wire
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn has been a solid part of the middle of the batting order for the Pirates and has been able to contribute solid power numbers and run production. He has 11 RBI over his last 11 games, going 15-for-48 (.313) with five doubles, a home run, and a .342 wOBA. The 32-year-old lefty has been very solid in his 67 games with the Pirates after joining them this past offseason on a two-year deal. O'Hearn is on pace to set a new career-high in homers and RBI if he stays healthy, and he can chip in solid run production for NL-only leagues or deep mixed leagues right away if you need some thump from the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bryan Reynolds Back in the Lineup on Saturday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds (groin) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Reynolds was scratched before Friday's game due to left groin discomfort. He would come off the bench and deliver an RBI single in his lone plate appearance. A day later, Reynolds appears to be feeling good enough to get back into the starting lineup. He'll bat third and cover left field versus right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano on Saturday. Fantasy managers should double-check their lineups and make sure Reynolds is in their lineup ahead of first pitch.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Konnor Griffin Advancing in his Throwing Program
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (forearm) saw Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas on June 2 and began throwing plyometric balls on June 7, according to MLB.com. He started throwing from 90 feet on June 10 and extended to 150 feet with no pain while rehabbing in Florida. Griffin was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 31 with a strained right forearm, but if he can avoid any setbacks as he continues to ramp up, he could rejoin the big-league roster by late June. The 20-year-old will eventually need to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment before the Pirates reinstate him from the IL, but he figures to be back before the All-Star break next month if everything goes according to plan. Before his forearm injury, the former ninth overall pick in 2024 was holding his own in his first 51 big-league games, slashing .270/.327/.402 with a .729 OPS, four homers, 22 RBI, 14 steals, and 30 runs scored across 208 plate appearances. Griffin really started to figure things out in May, going 30-for-98 (.306) with two homers, seven doubles, a triple, nine RBI, seven steals, and 20 runs scored in 25 games. He entered the 2026 campaign as a can't-miss prospect, and he has looked the part.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bryan Reynolds Scratched With Groin Discomfort
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds (groin) was a late scratch from the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field with left-groin discomfort, according to Manny Randhawa of MLB.com. With Reynolds banged up, Esmerlyn Valdez will make the start in left field for the Pirates and will bat seventh against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. An injury is about the only thing that can slow Reynolds down right now, as he came into Friday's contest red-hot at the plate lately. The 31-year-old former second-round pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2016 out of Vanderbilt University is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak in which he has gone 15-for-37 (.405) with four home runs, four doubles, eight RBI, and eight runs scored in 41 plate appearances to raise his season slash line to .283/.400/.472 with an .872 OPS. For now, we'll consider Reynolds to be day-to-day. Fantasy managers will want to check back in on him on Saturday to see if he's cleared to rejoin Pittsburgh's starting nine.
Source: MLB.com - Manny Randhawa
Source: MLB.com - Manny Randhawa
Ryan O'Hearn Sparks Offense, Tallies Career-High Six RBI in Sacramento
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Ryan O'Hearn led the offensive onslaught at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Wednesday night in the team's 12-4 victory over the hosting Athletics. O'Hearn went 3-for-5 at the plate with a two-run home run, a double, and a career-high six RBI to boost his season average to .290 and his OPS to .826. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed slugger took advantage of the hitter-friendly venue and drove in two runs with each of his three hits on the night. The former eighth-round selection by the Kansas City Royals in 2014 out of Sam Houston State University is now hitting a cool .290/.351/.475 with 11 home runs, 41 RBI, 33 runs scored, and one stolen base in his 60 games across 245 plate appearances in 2026 in his first year with the Pirates. In 15 games in June, he's gone 16-for-58 (.276) with three homers, two doubles, 11 RBI, and five runs scored. The key this year is that he has improved against lefties as well, going 17-for-63 (.270) against them with three of his 11 long balls.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bryan Reynolds Stays Red-Hot With Two Homers on Tuesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds can't be stopped right now at the plate. He stayed hot in Tuesday night's 6-5 win over the Athletics in Sacramento by going 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored to boost his season average to .280 and his OPS to .870 on the year. After falling behind 4-0 early in the contest, Reynolds single-handedly brought the Bucs back. The 31-year-old veteran switch-hitter is heating up with the weather and is now slashing .280/.400/.470 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 49 runs scored, and five stolen bases for Pittsburgh in 74 games played across 320 plate appearances in his eighth year in the big leagues. The two-time All-Star has reached base safely in 23 straight games now and has gone 30-for-83 (.361) with six long balls, eight doubles, 13 RBI, 19 runs scored, and two stolen bases during that stretch in 23 games played. Reynolds is as hot as they come right now and should be started in all leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Oneil Cruz Likely to Miss 4-6 Weeks With Hand Fracture
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that the "rough timetable" for outfielder Oneil Cruz's (hand) return is four to six weeks, per Danny Demilio of Pittsburgh Baseball Now. Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier this week due to non-displaced fourth and fifth metacarpal fractures in his left hand. It's an unfortunate setback for the 27-year-old, who was in the midst of a stellar season. Across 283 plate appearances before the injury, Cruz hit .264/.350/.472 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. Cruz's 34.6% strikeout rate is less than ideal, but his elite barrel (16.4%) and hard-hit (59.2%) rates allow him to be productive even through the swing-and-miss. Even with Cruz likely to be sidelined until mid-to-late July, fantasy managers should find a way to stash him in an IL or bench spot. Pirates outfielder Jake Mangum has taken over as the team's starting center fielder in Cruz's absence.
Source: Pittsburgh Baseball Now - Danny Demilio
Source: Pittsburgh Baseball Now - Danny Demilio
Pirates Recall Esmerlyn Valdez, Worth a Pickup Following Triple-A Power Surge?
The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled outfield prospect Esmerlyn Valdez, according to MLB Pipeline. Valdez is the ninth-ranked prospect in the Pirates system and has hit three home runs in his last four games at Triple-A. The 22-year-old got a brief run with Pittsburgh in early May and hit two home runs in five games, but he also struck out nine times in 18 plate appearances. Valdez has showcased big-time power upside during his time in Triple-A this season, hitting .255/.388/.526 with 13 home runs, 38 RBI, and 33 runs scored across 237 plate appearances. He's kept his minor league strikeout rate to a manageable 21.5% in 2026, but he's struggled with swing-and-miss in the past. Fantasy managers should not expect Valdez to help them with batting average or speed, but his power potential could still make him an appealing waiver wire target.
Source: MLB Pipeline
Source: MLB Pipeline
Pirates Place Oneil Cruz on Injured List With Hand Fracture
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Wednesday that they placed outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 8) with left-hand fourth and fifth metacarpal non-displaced fractures and recalled outfielder Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. Cruz initially injured his left hand while sliding in Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves, and he's expected to be out for a month, which means he probably won't return until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Jake Mangum made another start in center field for the Pirates on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he figures to become a lineup regular going forward, at least against right-handed pitchers. The 27-year-old Cruz should not be dropped in any traditional fantasy formats while he's sidelined. He has one of the quickest bats in baseball and makes some of the loudest contact when he connects, not to mention his high-end speed on the basepaths. Through 64 games in 2026 in his sixth year in the big leagues, Cruz is slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 homers, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, 45 runs scored, and a league-leading 98 strikeouts in 283 plate appearances.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Konnor Griffin to Resume Throwing on Wednesday
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (elbow) said the plan is for him to start throwing again on Wednesday, according to Pirates reporter Jason Mackey. Griffin is currently on the 10-day injured list due to a flexor strain in his right elbow, with no timetable for a return, but it's good news that he's already been cleared to resume throwing the baseball. The 20-year-old phenom isn't going to be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible, and he could be out for an extended period of time. Until Griffin can return from his elbow injury, Jared Triolo should be the Pirates' primary option at shortstop. The former ninth overall pick in 2024 didn't make the Pirates' Opening Day roster, but it wasn't long before he was called up to make his major-league debut in 2026. Griffin hasn't posted eye-popping numbers, but he has more than held his own in his first 51 big-league games, slashing .270/.327/.402 with a .729 OPS, four home runs, nine doubles, two triples, 22 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 30 runs scored across 208 plate appearances. Despite a potential lengthy absence, Griffin remains rostered in 86% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Oneil Cruz Still Dealing With Hand Injury
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) was initially slated to return to the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park, but he was scratched from the lineup and missed his second straight game with a cut on his hand that he suffered on Saturday, according to the team. Jake Mangum got the start in center field on Tuesday and was hitting seventh in the batting order against Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer. The 27-year-old Cruz's injury isn't considered serious, so he could be back in action as soon as Wednesday against L.A. Cruz hits the ball as hard as anyone in the big leagues when he makes contact, making him a must-start in all fantasy formats when he's active. The Dominican outfielder currently leads the league with 98 strikeouts in 283 plate appearances this year, but he's a multi-category contributor and is slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored in 64 games. Cruz is well on pace to set a new career high in home runs in his sixth year in the majors.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Oneil Cruz Day-to-Day With Hand Injury
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) cut his hand while sliding into home plate on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves and was out of the starting lineup for the series finale on Sunday as a result, according to Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan. Cruz is considered day-to-day and is unlikely to land on the 10-day injured list. The Pirates had a scheduled day off on Monday, so hopefully, he'll be feeling good enough to return to the starting nine for Tuesday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. When healthy, the Dominican outfielder is a must-start in all fantasy baseball formats because of his ability to contribute across all categories. Cruz currently ranks in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 79th percentile in xwOBA, and the 100th percentile in maximum exit velocity. He's currently slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored in 64 games across 283 plate appearances. Cruz leads the league with 98 strikeouts, but he scorches the ball more often than not when he makes contact.
Source: 93.7 The Fan - Jeff Hathhorn
Source: 93.7 The Fan - Jeff Hathhorn
Ryan O'Hearn Activated from Injured List on Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/first baseman Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) has been activated off the 10-day injured list, per Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. O'Hearn will take the roster spot of Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (forearm), who is headed to the injured list with a flexor strain in his right forearm. O'Hearn has been on the injured list since May 17 due to a quad injury. The 32-year-old was off to a strong start to his first season in Pittsburgh before getting hurt, hitting .289/.368/.459 with seven home runs, 29 RBI, 27 runs scored, and one stolen base across 182 plate appearances. With his 44.9% hard-hit rate and 18.7% strikeout rate, O'Hearn profiles as a strong source of batting average who should continue to compile counting stats in an everyday role in the heart of the Pirates lineup.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Now is the Time to Buy Low on Rookie Konnor Griffin
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin was the talk of spring training as one of the best prospects since Ken Griffey Jr. That's a lot of hype to live up to. The 20-year-old former ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft hasn't really lived up to the hype through his first 49 games with Pittsburgh, hitting .261/.322/.394 with a .716 OPS, four home runs, eight doubles, two triples, 21 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 29 runs scored across 199 plate appearances. Griffin hasn't been terrible, either, and his buy-low window in both redraft and dynasty leagues could be about to slam shut. He went 1-for-4 at the plate with a home run, his first since May 10, in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. In his last 13 games, he has hit .275 with 13 runs scored and three stolen bases, and it might only be a matter of time before Griffin puts it all together in 2026. In 23 games in May, Griffing is batting .292 (26-for-89) with two homers, six doubles, a triple, eight RBI, five steals, and 19 runs scored in 99 plate appearances. The kid can do it all, and he'll probably never be cheaper as a trade chip in fantasy baseball.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
