Cruz, Contreras Among Prospects Promoted to Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Pirates, announced today that the No. 53 prospect in Minor League Baseball, INF Oneil Cruz (MLB Pipeline, Pirates No. 3), RHP Roansy Contreras (Pirates No. 6), INF Mason Martin (No. 17), OF Cal Mitchell (No. 18), INF Rodolfo Castro (No. 25) and OF Canaan Smith-Njigba (No. 27) have been promoted from Double-A Altoona to Indianapolis. They will also be joined by RHP Yerry De Los Santos and RHP Osvaldo Bido.

Cruz, 22, entered the 2021 campaign rated as Pittsburgh’s No. 2 prospect, ‘Best Power Hitter,’ ‘Best Athlete’ and ‘Best Infield Arm’ by Baseball America. He also was named with having the ‘Best Arm’ in all of minor league baseball by MLB Pipeline. Outside of a stint on the injured list from July 6-Aug. 19, he has spent the season with Altoona and hit .292 (73-for-250) with 15 doubles, five triples (T-2nd in Double-A Northeast), 12 home runs, 40 RBI, 18 stolen bases (T-9th) and an .882 OPS.

The 6-foot-7 shortstop was traded to Pittsburgh from Los Angeles (NL) on July 31, 2017 with RHP Angel German in exchange for LHP Tony Watson. He was originally signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic on July 2, 2015.

Contreras, 21, was named Altoona’s Opening Day starter and went 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA (16er/54.1ip), 76 strikeouts, 0.90 WHIP and .185 average against (37-for-200) in 12 starts this season. He spent almost two months on the injured list after suffering a forearm injury and was activated on Sept. 1.

The right-hander was rated by Baseball America as the Yankees No. 13 prospect prior to the season before being traded from New York (AL) to Pittsburgh on Jan. 24, 2021. The Yankees originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic on July 2, 2016.

Martin, 22, was rated by MLB Pipeline preseason as Pittsburgh’s No. 15 prospect and the 10th-best first baseman while having a Power 60 grade at the plate. He hit .242 (100-for-414) with 29 doubles, 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 112 games with Altoona and finished the season ranked among Double-A Northeast qualifiers in RBI (2nd), total bases (2nd, 199), extra-base hits (T-2nd, 53), home runs (T-4th), doubles (T-4th), hits (8th) and runs scored (10th, 62).

He was selected by Pittsburgh in the 17th round (508th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Southridge High School in Kennewick, Wash. and went on to be named the organization’s MiLB Player of the Year in 2019.

Mitchell, 22, finished his Double-A season ranked No. 4 in hits, No. 8 in average and No. 9 in RBI among league leaders. He hit .280 (107-for-382) with 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 61 RBI in 108 games. As a corner outfielder – most of his time spent in right field – he compiled a .984 fielding percentage (3 errors in 192 total chances) in 822.2 innings.

The left-handed hitter was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (50th overall) out of Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, Calif.

Castro, 22, made his major league debut with Pittsburgh and became the first player in MLB’s modern era to have his first five big-league hits all be home runs. In 72 games with Altoona, he hit .242 (69-for-285) with 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 47 RBI.

The Dominican Republic native was signed by Pittsburgh as a non-drafted free agent on Oct. 30, 2015 and had his contract first selected on Nov. 20, 2020.

Smith-Njigba (N-JIG-buh), 22, had his season shortened by injured list stints from July 27-Aug. 5 and Aug. 11-Sept. 10 due to a right thigh injury. In 66 games with Altoona, he hit .274 (60-for-219) with an .805 OPS. The outfielder compiled a .991 fielding percentage (1 error in 109 total chances) in 505.2 innings between left (60 games/59 starts) and right field (1 start).

The lefty was traded from New York (AL) to Pittsburgh with Contreras and Indians pitcher Miguel Yajure in exchange for RHP Jameson Taillon. He was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas.