Collision leaves Pirates' Oneil Cruz on the sidelines due to injury
Pirates' Star Oneil Cruz Sidelined with Concussion, Ronny Simon Steps Up
The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently in a tough spot, with their star outfielder and slugger Oneil Cruz sidelined due to a concussion. Cruz was injured during a collision with teammate Jack Suwinski on August 12, 2025, and has been placed on the 7-day concussion injured list.
Cruz, who is known for his exceptional hitting power and is one of the rising stars in the league, has missed the past several games. Despite his absence, the Pirates are still struggling, currently six games up on the second-worst record in the league.
In the meantime, Ronny Simon has been called up as a replacement. Simon, who was claimed off waivers by the Pirates, has not had an at-bat with the team this season. His previous stint with the Miami Marlins saw him hit .234 with 5 RBIs and a .604 OPS.
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers are on a roll, chasing 12 straight wins and currently facing the Pirates in the series finale. The Brewers have already won 11 straight games, making them the hottest team in baseball.
Cruz's injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time, as he was in the midst of a strong season. He currently has 34 stolen bases this season, and his hitting power is so remarkable that he hit the ball harder than any other player in the league in the recent MLB Home Run Derby. However, his consistency remains raw despite his all-around abilities.
The latest update on Cruz's injury is that he is recovering from the concussion sustained in the collision with Suwinski. He has begun light activity, including plyometrics and batting practice, but has not yet completed the full concussion protocol testing required for a return to play. Pirates GM Ben Cherington and senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk both report that Cruz is improving daily, showing readiness for more activity but still requires additional time to fully clear the concussion protocol.
Although Cruz is now eligible to return at any time since the 7-day minimum has passed, the team is approaching his recovery cautiously due to the nature of concussions, taking a day-by-day approach. There is hope Cruz will return soon, but no definite timeline has been given yet.
In the meantime, the Pirates will continue to struggle without their star outfielder, while the Brewers look to extend their winning streak in the series finale.
References:
- Pirates.com
- MLB.com
- ESPN.com
- Baseball-Reference.com
- Fangraphs.com
Despite the absence of Oneil Cruz due to a concussion, the Pittsburgh Pirates are still grappling with their MLB games, with the slugger known for his exceptional hitting power and rising MLB stardom being sidelined. In his absence, Ronny Simon, who was claimed off waivers by the Pirates, has been called up as a replacement and will likely step up to fill Cruz's shoes in the upcoming games.
