2 reasons why Pirates fans should believe Oneil Cruz's breakout is for real

More: Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award

2. Cruz vs. offspeed pitching

"Cruz is also doing better against offspeed and breaking pitches," Ladson pointed out. Cruz, the power-hitting slugger, hadn't been doing too well against breaking and offspeed pitches.

Last year, he hit .164 after going 42-for-256 against such pitching. But things have taken a drastic turn this season, as he's gone 13-for-42 for a .310 batting average against offspeed and breaking pitches.

Before, pitchers could turn to offspeed and breaking stuff to get Cruz out. That's not the case this season, as the Pirates slugger is finding his groove against such pitching.

Oneil Cruz is breaking out for real

Between Cruz hitting offspeed and breaking pitches better, along with much better production against left-handed pitching, this breakout is for real.

Cruz is hitting .295 on the season with six homers, 19 RBIs, and a league-best nine stolen bases. His .924 OPS is a great mark, and he's breaking out at 27 years old.

While it might be hard to fully buy into Cruz's breakout due to the shaky seasons he's had in the past, the lefty hitting numbers thanks to a batting stance change, and his ability to hit the offspeed and breaking pitches he struggled with last year, should instill confidence.

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career
• Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade
• Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece