(Credit and Caption for Photo: The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Twins, Friday, May 29, 2026, at PNC Park, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Post Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz officially returned to the team’s active roster yesterday after being taken off the 60-day injured list.

Cruz has been injured since June 7th because of left hand fourth and fifth metacarpal non-displaced fractures in his left hand that he suffered on June 6th sliding into home plate during the team’s game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta.

Cruz was on the bench for yesterday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park, but according to Pirates manager Don Kelly, he will start for the second game of the three-game series tonight between the two teams in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates sent outfielder Ronny Simon back to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move yesterday to make room for Cruz on their roster. 

Other corresponding roster moves yesterday for the Pirates included left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco getting optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis and right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez returning from paternity leave.