Oneil Cruz had surgery on his fractured left ankle at Allegheny General Hospital late Sunday night, the Pirates announced on Monday afternoon. They also projected the 24-year-old shortstop's timeline to return at four months, meaning Cruz won't return until after the All-Star break and well into August.
Per the Pirates' release, Dr. Greg Altman and Dr. Darren Frank performed the procedure to stabilize Cruz's fractured fibula and address the injury to the syndesmosis, which is a joint held together by ligaments near the ankle joint, between the shin and outside of the leg.
Cruz injured his ankle during a collision at home plate earlier in the day with White Sox catcher Seby Zavala and had to be helped off the field, unable to put any weight on his left leg. Immediately after the play occurred, Cruz screamed in pain — and the Pirates grew enraged when Zavala began to scream at Cruz.
