Sep 27, 2026, 9:08 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (knee) did not play in his team's 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday due to a left knee contusion. However, Kevin Gorman of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that tests on Cruz's knee came back negative. The 27-year-old finishes 2026 hitting .280/.368/.486 with 20 home runs, 67 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases across 419 plate appearances. Cruz missed over two months with a fractured hand, which may have cost him a chance at a truly elite fantasy season. The lefty slugger's .280 batting average is also likely a bit fluky, as he struck out in 33.2% of his plate appearances and batted .397 on balls in play. Still, Cruz carries elite power/speed upside for fantasy managers and profiles as one of the better outfield options for fantasy managers ahead of 2027.--Will Brady
Source: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Kevin Gorman

Sep 13, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Pro Publica's Gus Garcia-Roberts reports that Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz rear-ended a motorcycle six years ago, killing all three of its passengers and jeopardizing his major-league baseball career. Cruz's parents brought in a fixer to pay off the victims' families so they would not sue and would not demand that prosecutors pursue the case. The fixer, Santo Caraballo, essentially saved Cruz's career and launched his own as one of the most powerful figures in Dominican baseball. Caraballo had also become business partners with Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz. A judge released Cruz on a bond of $34,000 after the incident. In court, a lawyer emphasized that Cruz was one of baseball's "five highest-ranked prospects internationally" and that the accident "hurts the whole town, Oneil above all, who for this will have to go to professional therapy so that he can cope with the trauma." Caraballo ultimately negotiated payments to the three victims' families that totaled nearly $70,000 in exchange for getting them to withdraw their claims against Cruz. The document filed in court states that the families sought to "withdraw" all legal claims against Cruz and that they had not received any "pecuniary interest" for withdrawing the claims. A Pro Publica review of the documents signed shows key differences between paperwork filed with the court and the document NOT filed with the court. It is unclear if Major League Baseball will look further into the matter or if Cruz will be subject to any kind of discipline.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Publica - Gus Garcia-Roberts

Sep 12, 2026, 1:49 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring) on the injured list on Saturday with a strained left hamstring. The 22-year-old outfielder injured himself on Friday while trying to beat out a ground ball in the sixth inning. He came up limping and was helped off the field. A day later, he was placed on the injured list, keeping him out of action for at least 10 days. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but given the timing, there is a chance that this ends his season. If he doesn't return in 2026, he will finish with 17 home runs over 72 games played, which should keep him in consideration as a late-round draft pick heading into the 2027 draft. In his absence, Jake Mangum should once again be considered as an injury replacement for the Pirates and receive additional opportunities. He has some fantasy appeal, as he has posted a .283/.340/.369 slash line this season with 23 stolen bases over 122 games played.--Dave Funnell - RotoBaller
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates

Sep 11, 2026, 12:17 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Friday that they activated first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list. Although O'Hearn is back for the start of the team's weekend series in Chicago against the division-rival Cubs, he is not in the team's starting lineup on Friday against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. The 33-year-old veteran should be back in the lineup for the first time since late July for Game 2 of the series at Wrigley Field on Saturday. He went 1-for-7 with a double in two minor-league rehab games with Triple-A Indianapolis and will be hoping to pick up where he left off with the Pirates. In his first year in the Steel City in 2026, O'Hearn has slashed .270/.334/.454 with a .788 OPS, a career-high-tying 17 home runs, 69 RBI, 54 runs scored, and a stolen base in 96 games across 398 plate appearances. He has been pretty mediocre against left-handers, though, hitting .223 (25-for-112) against them with only four of his 17 home runs in 124 plate appearances. Against righties, though, he could be a nice asset for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to close out the season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates

Sep 6, 2026, 11:07 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Edward Florentino homered on Saturday for his second homer in four games with High-A Greensboro. Florentino has had a good minor league season at age 19 between two minor league levels, combining to hit .236 with 27 homers and 84 RBI with 84 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. The left-handed hitter is the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates system with a 50-grade hit tool, 60-grade power, and 55-grade speed. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Florentino is a bit wiry but has room to put on some more muscle, which will only likely add to his power. His average is a bit low this season, but that could be due to adjusting to the minors in only his third professional season. Signed out of the Dominican Republic, Florentino looks to have high fantasy upside and be a high priority dynasty league pickup.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Sep 4, 2026, 2:48 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) has officially been activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday, according to Danny Demilio of PGH Baseball Now. Griffin should be making his return to the 6 in the starting lineup for the Bucs for their series opener on Friday night at PNC Park against the Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Ryan Johnson. Fantasy managers who need middle-infield help in all formats should scoop Griffin up immediately, as he is only rostered in 69% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. The 20-year-old former top prospect got off to a bit of a slow start in his first major-league season, but he was beginning to figure things out offensively before tearing the sagittal band on his left ring finger two months ago. The former ninth overall pick in 2024 will return to a .276/.332/.404 slash line with a .736 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored. Griffin's power is still developing, but he is one of the top young power/speed assets at a premium position in MLB.--Keith Hernandez
Source: PGH Baseball Now - Danny Demilio

Aug 31, 2026, 2:10 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) will start his next minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Sept. 1, according to Dominic Campbell of Sports Illustrated. Griffin is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on Sept. 4, but it is unclear if the Pirates will be ready to bring him back by then. The young shortstop is ready to move to Indy after playing with Double-A Altoona over the weekend. He is attempting to return from a torn sagittal band on his left ring finger that has kept him sidelined since July 6. The 20-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2024 has the chance to be a perennial All-Star at the 6 for years to come, and he hit .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his first 59 major-league games across 247 plate appearances before injuring his finger. When Griffin returns, he will play regularly at shortstop to close out the 2026 campaign. Fantasy managers looking for power/speed upside at the 6 need to stash Griffin ASAP. He is currently rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - Dominic Campbell

Aug 26, 2026, 9:15 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis with an undisclosed injury on August 20, so he could return to action this weekend if his stay on the IL is a short one. Even so, it doesn't give the Pirates' 13th-ranked prospect much time to get rolling again in order to get another shot in the majors this season. The right-handed hitter has held his own at Triple-A this season, slashing .270/.337/.419 with seven home runs in 61 games for the Indians, but has done little with his opportunities in the big leagues this year, batting .167 (8-for-48) with zero home runs and a 32.0 percent strikeout rate (2.0 percent walk rate) in 50 plate appearances for the Bucs. Whether he spends the minimum amount of time on the injured list or not, the 23-year-old doesn't offer much intrigue for fantasy at this point and should not be considered a stash option for the fantasy stretch run.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 23, 2026, 2:07 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia (undisclosed) was recently optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis and just landed on the seven-day injured list with an unspecified injury. Garcia spent a stint in the major leagues with the Pirates but was sent back down to Indianapolis on August 14 after he was called up on July 29. With the Pirates, Garcia played in 20 games this season and hit .167 with no homers and two RBI. In the minors between two levels this season, the talented right-handed hitter combined to hit 10 homers with 36 RBI with a .276 batting average in 244 at-bats. The injury setback hurts Garcia's chances of returning to Pittsburgh and spending time with the big-league club again this season. He did little in his first MLB stint and likely will not get another one until at least next season.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Aug 20, 2026, 2:57 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis on August 14 after a brief second stint with the big-league club. The Pirates' fifth-ranked prospect is 3-for-11 (.273) in the three games since rejoining Indianapolis and is now slashing .270/.337/.419 with seven home runs and five steals in 61 games for the Indians. The right-handed hitter surged through the minors on the way to a major league debut in Boston's organization in 2025, but has done little with his limited opportunities in the majors. Coming off a 21-home-run campaign in 114 games last year and with a ball hit 113.5 mph this season (95th percentile), there is some power potential in his bat, but it comes with a lot of chase that leads to a lot of swing-and-miss and few walks. The 23-year-old could get another shot in the majors this season, but there are likely better stash options available on your waiver wire.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 17, 2026, 3:12 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are activating outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) from the 60-day injured list on Monday and are optioning outfielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move, according to Danny Demilio of PGH Sports Now. Cruz will not be in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener at home against the visiting Detroit Tigers and left-hander Framber Valdez, but he will be the team's starting center fielder the rest of the way. The 27-year-old Dominican left-handed hitter should immediately be reinserted into all starting fantasy lineups as he returns from a fractured left hand that kept him out since June 7. Before his injury, Cruz was slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored across 64 games and 283 plate appearances. In six minor-league rehab games with Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona, Cruz went 3-for-22 at the plate with a stolen base. Cruz is rostered in 95% of Yahoo leagues for his ability to contribute across all categories when he is healthy.--Keith Hernandez
Source: PGH Baseball Now - Danny Demilio

Aug 14, 2026, 1:22 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) is expected to continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Friday night, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cruz will not be joining the Pirates for their series opener against the Boston Red Sox. It's unclear if the Pirates will consider activating Cruz from the 60-day injured list for the remainder of the weekend series against the BoSox. Through four rehab games so far at Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, the left-handed slugger has gone 2-for-13 at the plate with six strikeouts and three walks. He probably won't return to the big-league roster until he plays in back-to-back games in center field, so fantasy managers should probably not expect him back in Pittsburgh until at least early next week. The five-category contributor has been sidelined since the middle of June with a fractured hand, but he should remain stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues with the potential to be a difference-maker in the final month of the regular season. The 27-year-old Dominican was hitting .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 homers, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs in 250 at-bats before his hand injury in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley

Aug 13, 2026, 12:54 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates first base/outfield prospect Edward Florentino has put up good numbers this season between two minor-league levels this season at age 19. Currently at High-A Greensboro, Florentino has 16 homers and 50 RBI in 73 games for the Grasshoppers while hitting .216 with 58 runs scored. The outfield/first base prospect is likely to make his way up the minor league ladder in the next few years, but is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Pirates' system. He has 60-grade power with a 50-grade hit tool and 55-grade speed. The left-handed hitter out of the Dominican Republic has the future tools to be a star, but at the age of 19 will need a few years to get some reps under his belt. A dynasty league stud, Florentino can be left on the waiver wire for the rest of this season in redraft leagues.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball

Aug 11, 2026, 12:53 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia was called up to Pittsburgh on July 29 after spending most of the season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. Garcia has played 19 games with Pittsburgh and has 47 at-bats with a .170 batting average and no homers, with two RBI and two runs scored. The right-handed hitting 23-year-old is off to a slow start with his new big league club after debuting briefly with the Red Sox last season. Garcia has already received an extended opportunity with the Pirates. The No. 5 overall prospect for Pittsburgh has yet to show off his skills at the big league level and thus can be left on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues. He's combined for 10 homers and 35 runs in the minors this season between two levels but has yet to showcase that ability for the big league club.--Brian Buckey - RotoBaller
Source: Minor League Baseball