Pirates Activate Oneil Cruz from Injured List

The Pittsburgh Pirates have activated center fielder Oneil Cruz from the 60-day injured list, marking his return after more than two months. Alongside Cruz, right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramirez has been reinstated from the paternity list, while Hunter Barco and Ronny Simon have been sent to Triple-A.

Cruz has been sidelined since early June due to fractures in his left hand, which he sustained during a play in Atlanta. Before his injury, he had shown promise with a batting average of .271 and 14 home runs in 268 plate appearances, despite a high strikeout rate of 34.6%.

His return is expected to provide a significant boost to a Pirates lineup that has struggled with injuries this season. The team is currently 61-65 and looking to improve their standing in the NL Central, with hopes of contending for a Wild Card spot.