Jim Sankey: Extra Innings: Is Cruz injury destined to be Polanco 2.0?

Apr. 11—Perhaps the Pirates need to spend more time on teaching their promising stars how to slide, or perhaps not allow them to be on base in the sixth inning of home games they win.

For the second time in five seasons, the Pirates have lost an up-and-coming star due to an awkward slide.

In the sixth inning of Sunday's 1-0 win over the White Sox at PNC Park, shortstop Oneil Cruz slid awkwardly at home and in the collision landed with his left ankle under him.

X-rays showed a fracture, which required surgery that night to stabilize his fibula and repair the injury to the syndesmosis, a joint held together by ligaments near the ankle joint, between the shin and outside of the leg.

Surgeons Dr. Greg Altman and Dr. Darren Frank at Allegheny General Hospital projected the timeline for Cruz's return at four months, or until mid-August.

And while the surgery was successful, no one knows whether the recovery will be.

In the sixth inning of the Sept. 7, 2018, Pirates 5-3 win over the Marlins at PNC Park, right fielder Gregory Polanco tried to avoid a tag with what might graciously be called an "unorthodox" slide. Replays showed that he had leapt in the air and landed on his right foot before extending his left leg toward the second base bag and tumbling to ground. The awkward slide hurt his left knee, dislocated his left shoulder and tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder.

Polanco had surgery on Sept. 12 of that year, missed the rest of the season and was not activated until April 22, 2019.

Although Cruz seems destined to be a much better player than Polanco, the eerily similar situations extend much beyond an awkward slide in the sixth inning of winning game at home.

Both are from the Dominican Republic, and both were the tallest players on their teams, with Cruz being two inches taller than the 6-foot, 5-inch Polanco.

Both saw considerable media and fan consternation as the organization kept both players in the minor leagues simply to extend club control for an additional year.

Polanco's promise and early MLB stats earned him a five-year extension signed in 2016 with two club options that could have kept him Pittsburgh through the 2023 season.

In 2018, Polanco hit .254 with 23 home runs in 130 games before the injury.

But he never recovered and his one-time strong arm became a liability in right field and his power evaporated. That team-friendly deal (Do the Pirates make any other kind?) that could have been worth $60 million over seven years led to most fans souring on the one-time favorite.

After a couple more seasons, the Bucs finally cut Polanco in late 2021, drawing almost as much fan approval as the five-year extension he signed in 2016. The Pirates declined their two-year club options and the longest-tenured Pirate and the last remnant of the 2015 playoff team was gone.

Many have called for the Pirates to sign Cruz to a long contract, just as several successful organizations have done with their promising young core players. Such moves provide securing the services of those players who have shown in small samples a strong possibility of elite play while they are still signable and allow clubs to better execute a money plan for several years. For players, it provides financial security and peace of mind, which can be more enticing for younger players; besides, truly what's the real difference between $10 million and $12 million a year?

There is no replacing dynamic players like Cruz, who announcer Greg Brown says causes players in the bullpen and visiting dugout to stop whatever they were doing to watch him bat.

What also makes it difficult for Pirates fans is that the 6-3 start to the season has lulled some of us into thinking that the team is better than what it is. After playing the first nine games against projected the third-place White Sox and bottom feeders Cincinnati and Boston, the Pirates this week run in Houston (starting with an 8-2 loss Monday) and St. Louis, both highly-rated postseason probables.

In the meantime, as they say, hope for the best (Cruz is actually back with no after-effects) and prepare for the worst (anything else).

JIM SANKEY writes his Extra Innings columns for Allied News. The weekly columns focus on the Pittsburgh Pirates and other Major League Baseball-related storylines.

JIM SANKEY writes his Extra Innings columns for Allied News. The weekly columns focus on the Pittsburgh Pirates and other Major League Baseball-related storylines.