The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred Oneil Cruz to the 60-day injured list ahead of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, making a procedural roster move to create space on the club's 40-man roster.
The transaction allowed Pittsburgh to select the contract of right-handed pitching prospect Khristian Curtis, who is expected to make his major league debut. The Pirates also reinstated right-hander Wilber Dotel from the 15-day injured list to serve as the club's 27th man for the doubleheader.
Cruz has been sidelined since June after suffering fractures to the fourth and fifth metacarpals in his left hand. Because the transfer is retroactive to his original injured list stint, he will become eligible to return on Aug. 8 if his recovery continues without setbacks.
Curtis earned his promotion after splitting the 2026 season between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. Ranked as Pittsburgh's No. 21 prospect, the right-hander impressed throughout the minors and now gives the Pirates another fresh arm for Saturday's twin bill.
The roster moves come as Pittsburgh continues balancing its active roster while navigating injuries during the second half of the season. Moving Cruz to the 60-day injured list does not represent a setback in his recovery but instead provides the flexibility needed to add another pitcher to the 40-man roster.
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Before his injury, Cruz remained one of Pittsburgh's most productive offensive players. The 27-year-old was batting .264 with 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and an .822 OPS, continuing to showcase the power-speed combination that has made him one of the National League's most dynamic players.
The Pirates will rely on their current roster to bridge the gap while Cruz continues recovering from the hand fractures. If his rehabilitation stays on schedule, the club could welcome one of its biggest offensive threats back as early as Aug. 8 while evaluating Curtis' early contributions at the major league level.
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