Three Takeaways: Pirates Bats Shine in Sweep of Twins

Ryan O'Hearn returned from the 10-day injured list and hit a home run in his first at-bat in the series finale, while first baseman Spencer Horwitz hit his second leadoff home run in a week in the second game.

Bryan Reynolds also hit just his second career walk-off home run in the series opener, a two-run shot that gave them a big win after back-to-back disappointing losses to end their series with the Chicago Cubs.

Konnor Griffin had four hits in nine at-bats in the designated hitter spot, showing off his speed too, which the Pirates will miss with him going on the 10-day injured list.

What performances like these do for the Pirates is it makes it tough for other teams to really plan for them, particularly for their pitching staff.

While the Pirates do have their star players, their backend of the lineup hitters coming through is crucial for their success moving forward and it allows the top bats to have even better outings too.

Oneil Cruz Finds Power Again

Center fielder Oneil Cruz showed off his power with two home runs in the series, after hitting just two home runs prior in May.

His first home run was a solo home run into the Allegheny River in the series opener, hitting it 110.8 mph off the bat and 450 feet over the right field wall.

Cruz became the second player to hit two home runs off the fly into the Allegheny River, last doing it vs. the Tampa Bay Rays on June 22, 2024, and it was just the seventh time that it's happened. Former Pirates first baseman Josh Bell (2016-20) was the other player who did it and plays for the Twins currently.

He then hit a three-run home run in the second contest to cap off a six-run second inning to give the Pirates a 7-1 lead.

Cruz hit that ball into the Pirates bullpen, 110.8 mph off the bat and 420 feet to center field for another impressive home run.

He's having a strong season so far, slashing .255/.330/.464 for an OPS of .794, with 60 hits, 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 41 RBI and 19 stolen bases on 22 attempts.

Cruz may lead MLB in strikeouts with 91, but he's also on pace for 35 home runs and 51 stolen bases, something only Pirates player has ever done, which was Barry Bonds in 1990, when he hit 33 home runs and stole 52 bases en route to a National League MVP.

He may not end up as NL MVP, but Cruz showing his power again is crucial for a Pirates team that will take every bit of it.

Braxton Ashcraft Is a Top Pitcher in Baseball

Pirates right-handed starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft was sensational in his outing vs. the Twins in the series finale, showing the very best of what he has to offer.

Ashcraft gave up two runs over six innings of work and struck out a career-high 11 batters, while walking none in the victory, getting a 47% whiff rate and excelling with his four-seam fastball and curveball.

He caps off an incredible month of May, with a 4-0 record over six starts, a 1.99 ERA over 40.2 innings pitched, 42 strikeouts to five walks, a .221 batting average allowed and a 0.93 WHIP.

Ashcraft is proving he's one of the best pitchers in baseball at the moment, with his 81 strikeouts tied for sixth-most in MLB, his 74.2 innings pitched fifth-most in baseball and his 2.77 ERA the 12th-lowest amongst qualified MLB pitchers.

If he continues this level of pitching, Ashcraft will end up making his first All-Star game and make the Pirates rotation one of the best in baseball.