The 2025 Home Run Derby participant reached second with a head-first slide despite a pitchout attempt to get him, but Cruz showed why he's among the best in baseball on the base paths. Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jose Caballero was the first to 30 this season and is currently atop the MLB with 31.
Cruz already surpassed his career high of 22 stolen bases last year and is now on the course to double that amount this season with 64 games left to go.
Despite ultimately losing to the MLB Home Run king in Cal Raleigh during the Derby, Cruz still held the top spot for the longest ball hit at 513 feet (156 meters).
Cruz put up 13 homers to Raleigh's 19 before the latter went on to the final round to defeat Junior Caminero 18-15.
The 6-foot-7 Dominican native has 16 home runs and 38 RBI on the season in his fifth year with the Pirates, slashing an unfavourable 216/.322/.416.
In 2024, Cruz had his big standout hitting just under .260 while posting a career-best 21 homers and 76 RBI, the former of which he could surpass in the coming August.
Pittsburgh has team control over Cruz until 2028 as he's currently in his final pre-arbitration year of his contract.