Oneil Cruz has been the most electric player so far on Opening Day but NOT in a good way

No denying it. Oneil Cruz has been the most talked about player on Opening Day and the Pittsburgh Pirates game against the New York Mets is still in the bottom of the fifth inning.

I hopped on Twitter to catch up on the early MLB action and I saw this tweet from the best basketball player on planet earth, Joel Embiid, who’s apparently locked into the Pirates vs Mets game.

The first was about Paul Skenes getting knocked out of the game after just 0.2 innings of work, followed by a tweet about newly-minted and almost certainly short-lived centerfielder Oneil Cruz, telling him to get ready to learn DH.

Joel Embiid locked in on Oneil Cruz in the Pirates-Mets game

Can’t believe he pulled Skenes

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) March 26, 2026

Cruz, get ready to learn DH buddy!!

— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) March 26, 2026

Here’s what Oneil Cruz has contributed so far on Opening Day…

So yes, all of the Pittsburgh Pirates troubles so far are because of Oneil Cruz. Two costly misplays in center field. One walk overturned by the ABS challenge system. One lost bat on a strikeout. The Mets lead the Pirates 9-4.

The sun was causing MAJOR issues for Oneil Cruz…

Oneil Cruz with two of the worst center field plays you'll see in a big league game

…in the first inning of the first game of the year pic.twitter.com/kaBWNd58a3

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 26, 2026

The Robot Umpire Strikes Oneil Cruz OUT

Oneil Cruz's Opening Day so far:

Two costly misplays in center field, one walk overturned via ABS and one lost bat on a strikeout pic.twitter.com/ZXCFyb5RTl

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 26, 2026

The obvious question is whether the Pirates moved this man from shortstop to center field and just wished him luck without ever throwing him a fly ball in Spring Training.

There were clearly some issues with the sun out there. It’s also Opening Day against the Mets with Paul Skenes on the mound. Two errors in the first inning on the biggest stage of the regular season calendar cannot happen regardless of where the sun is sitting.

Paul Skenes lasted 0.2 innings. I think we’re all in agreement that the Pirates ruining him was not supposed to start this early in the process.

The Mets lead 9-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Happy Opening Day everyone.

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