Former Dodger Prospect Injured in Awkward Collision

The shortstop traded in 2017 has been a breakout star for the Pirates

In unfortunate news in the world of baseball, former Dodgers infield prospect and current Pittsburgh Pirates standout Oneil Cruz suffered an ankle injury on Sunday afternoon. It was revealed that he fractured his left ankle in an awkward slide and collision with the catcher at home plate.

The incident actually turned into a bit of a brawl between the Pirates and visiting White Sox all while Cruz was on the ground in pain and being tended to by training staff.

Benches clear in Pittsburgh after a play at the plate involving Oneil Cruz

(via @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/zEfdulecBS

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 9, 2023

Pirates first baseman Carlos Santana (another former Dodger) instigated the brawl after getting into it with the Sox catcher.

Despite Cruz being in obvious pain, Zavala yelled at Cruz as he rolled on the dirt, unable to move his left leg. Carlos Santana took exception and yelled at Zavala. The two approached one another, and Santana shoved Zavala in his chest protector, causing the benches and bullpens to clear. ...

“[Cruz] wasn’t trying to hit [Zavala] on purpose,” Santana said. “It was a quick play. Everything was fast. I don’t like how [Zavala] screamed at [Cruz] when he got hurt. For me, I had to support my teammate.”

Oneil Cruz is often viewed as one of the two big recent "ones that got away" among Dodgers fans. He was signed by LA as an international free agent in 2015 and traded by the team in 2017 for lefty reliever Tony Watson. The year before, the Dodgers traded a guy by the name of Yordan Alvarez to the Houston Astros for reliever Josh Fields.

He'll be out for four months.

Oneil Cruz had surgery last evening at Allegheny General Hospital by Dr. Greg Altman and Dr. Darren Frank. The surgery stabilized the fractured fibula and addressed the injury to the syndesmosis.

We anticipate a return to action in 4 months.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 10, 2023