Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Oneil Cruz was born October 4, 1998, in Nizao, Dominican Republic. He is an infielder in the MLB.

Cruz signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2015 as an international free agent for a $950,000 signing bonus. Cruz made his professional debut in 2016 with DSL Dodgers 1, batting .294 with 23 RBIs in 55 games. He began the 2017 season with the Great Lakes Loons.

On July 31, 2017, the Dodgers traded Cruz and Angel German to the Pirates in exchange for Tony Watson. He was then assigned to the West Virginia Power. In 105 games between the two clubs, he slashed .237/.297/.350 with ten home runs and 44 RBIs. In 2018, he played for the West Virginia Black Bears, batting .286 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs in 103 games, earning South Atlantic League All-Star honors. Cruz began 2019 with the Class A Advanced Bradenton Marauders and was promoted to Double-A Altoona Curve on July 30.

Cruz split the 2021 minor league season between Altoona and the Indianapolis Indians, hitting a combined .310/.375/.594/.970 with 17 home runs, 47 RBI, and 19 stolen bases.

On October 2, 2021, Cruz was promoted to the active roster for the first time to make his MLB debut.