The pregame routine is usually quiet, with players stretching, some chatting, and pitchers tossing in rhythm. But when Paul Skenes watches batting practice and sees one particular teammate take the cage, everything changes. It’s not just the sound of the bat or the distance the ball travels. It’s the way the energy shifts. Suddenly, it feels like the actual show has started, before the first pitch.
That teammate is 26-year-old Oneil Cruz. Towering at 6-foot-7 with a swing as violent as it is fluid, Cruz has long been known for freakish raw power. Now, with his name officially confirmed as a participant in the 2025 Home Run Derby, the baseball world is finally getting a full-stage glimpse at what Pirates insiders have known all along: Cruz doesn’t just hit baseballs. He launches them into orbit.
“I’m as excited for that (Oneil Cruz in the Derby) as I am for the actual All-Star Game,” Skenes said on MLB Network Radio. “His batting practice is the most impressive I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Oneil Cruz is the 5th confirmed player into the #HRDerby.
Paul Skenes: “(Oneil Cruz’s) batting practice is the most impressive batting practice I’ve ever seen in my life.”#Pirates | @Pirates | #LetsGoBucs
https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/Xt2hiracKQ
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 8, 2025
It’s pure admiration. And Skenes isn’t just throwing around clichés. This is a pitcher who faces the league’s best, who knows what true power looks like, and he’s still blown away by Cruz’s daily displays. “He misses balls and they still land in the second deck,” he added. “I think he hit a ball over the Chop House when we were in Atlanta last year.”
For Cruz, this Derby appearance isn’t just about showmanship, it’s a shot at redemption. Despite flashes of brilliance this season, the slugger didn’t earn an All-Star nod, sparking debate across the fanbase. But the Derby? That’s his proving ground. And with teammates like Skenes backing him this boldly, the message is clear: don’t underestimate what’s coming.
The Pirates haven’t had many national moments in recent years, but Skenes and Cruz are changing that narrative. One on the mound, the other in the box, they represent the club’s rising identity. And if Cruz does what Skenes believes he can, the Chop House may not be the last landmark he clears this month.
One thing’s for sure: the rest of the league might want to pay attention to Pittsburgh’s power duo because the ball, and the bar, just keep going higher.
The post Paul Skenes Shares Bold Take on 26YO Pirates Teammate After Latest Home Run Derby Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.