During Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh, a collision at home plate between Pittsburgh Pirates’ player Oneil Cruz and Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala resulted in a bench-clearing brawl. The incident occurred when Cruz was making his way towards home on a groundball hit towards third base. Zavala managed to tag Cruz before he could touch home plate, but unfortunately, Cruz sustained a leg injury during the collision and had to leave the game.
The injury was a result of the way that Cruz tried sliding into home. He should have started his slide sooner than he did. Additionally, the way that he came into home was dangerous to both himself and the catcher. The matter could have ended a lot worst than it did.
Nevertheless, the incident stirred emotions on both teams, causing a heated confrontation that led to a bench-clearing brawl. If Cruz is out of action for an extended period, it could have a terrible impact on the Pirates’ performance. Initially, the Pirates were exceeding expectations by winning five of their first eight games, including a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park this month.
Benches cleared in Pittsburgh! pic.twitter.com/CBiJzLciX6
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) April 9, 2023
Cruz is a vital player for the Pirates, and his absence could significantly affect the team’s overall performance. Last year, he completed 87 games, batting .233 with 17 home runs, 54 RBI, ten stolen bases, and 28 walks. This season, the 24-year-old has been batting an average of .267 with a home run, four RBI, six walks, and an OPS of .788.
The Pirates will continue their homestand with a crucial three-game set against the defending World Series champions, Houston Astros, which began on Monday.
UPDATE: Cruz is expected to miss four months of the season after undergoing ankle surgery for his broken ankle. To fill his spot on the roster, they recalled Mark Mathias from the Triple-A league.
