Oneil Cruz news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
ProPublica reported Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz allegedly used a fixer to pay $66,000 to families of.
The case was dismissed in 2021, so the report raises new questions about accountability.
Background
In 2020, Oneil Cruz, then a 21-year-old top Pirates prospect, rear-ended a motorcycle in the Dominican Republic, killing all three passengers. According to a ProPublica report published Thursday, his parents brought in a fixer who paid the victims' families so they would not sue or press prosecutors to pursue the case. The accident was mentioned in news reports as Cruz rose through the minors but faded; on Aug. 30, 2021, a judge dismissed the case after the victims' families were not involved, and Cruz made his MLB debut 33 days later.
How it unfolded
- 2020Oneil Cruz, then a 21-year-old Pirates prospect, rear-ended a motorcycle in the Dominican Republic, killing all three passengers.
- 2020Cruz was released on $34,000 bond; a few weeks later he posted a photo alongside Caraballo in Miami.
- Aug 30, 2021Cruz had a virtual court appearance; with the victims' families not involved, the judge dismissed the case.
- 2021Cruz made his major league debut 33 days after the case was dismissed.
- Sep 10, 2026ProPublica published a report alleging Cruz's parents hired a fixer who paid the victims' families so they would not sue or demand prosecutors pursue the case.
Who’s saying what
- Report
- ProPublica alleges Cruz's family used a fixer to pay off the victims' families to prevent a lawsuit and prosecution.
- Analysts
- SI writes that Cruz may face difficult questions soon following the ProPublica report.
Still unverified
The ProPublica report's allegations are described as alleged; the exact amount paid ($66,000 per NY Post) and the full details of the fixer arrangement have not been confirmed by official sources or Cruz. Cruz has not publicly responded in the retrieved material.