Fernando Cruz Bio
Fernando E. Cruz (born March 28, 1990) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Originally drafted as an infielder by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB draft, he transitioned to pitching years later and made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022 at age 32. Cruz previously played in MLB for Cincinnati from 2022 through 2024 before being traded to the Yankees in December 2024.
Cruz has represented Puerto Rico in international competition, including the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and 2026. His professional path has carried him through minor-league affiliates, independent baseball, the Mexican League, and ultimately the major leagues, where he has settled into a role as a middle reliever.
Early Life and Background
Fernando E. Cruz was born on March 28, 1990, and grew up in Puerto Rico, where he developed his love for baseball. As a teenager, he attracted the attention of Major League scouts as a position player and entered the professional ranks straight out of the amateur pipeline at age 17.
Cruz came up as an infielder, a path that shaped his early professional development. His selection in the 2007 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals marked the first significant step of his career, offering him the chance to refine his offensive and defensive skills within the Royals’ farm system.
Path to Baseball
The Kansas City Royals selected Cruz in the sixth round, 186th overall, of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals and spent the next two seasons with the rookie-level Burlington Royals, playing in a total of 157 games across those two years, hitting .277 and .221 with a cumulative 3 home runs and 44 RBI.
In 2011, Cruz converted into a pitcher. His first season on the mound was a learning curve, as he posted a 2–3 record and 7.99 ERA with 15 walks and 17 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings pitched across 17 appearances for the AZL Royals. He spent the 2012 season with the rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars, logging a 4–3 record and 6.88 ERA with 17 walks, 38 strikeouts and 3 saves in 35 1/3 innings of work. On October 3, 2012, Cruz was released by the Royals organization.
After spending the 2013 and 2014 seasons out of affiliate ball, Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization on December 19, 2014. He split the 2015 season between the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, pitching to a 3–4 record and 5.64 ERA with 34 walks, 58 strikeouts and 3 saves in 68 2/3 innings across 32 combined games. He was released by the Cubs during Spring Training the following year on March 29, 2016.
Fernando Cruz Career
Independent and Mexican League Years (2016–2021)
On April 17, 2016, Cruz signed with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League. He made 34 appearances for the team that season, registering a 6–3 record and 2.63 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 12 saves in 72 innings pitched. In 2017, he made 7 starts for the club, posting a 4–2 record and 2.82 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 51 innings of work. He made only 1 start with the team in 2018, earning the win after tossing 8 1/3 innings and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts.
On August 10, 2018, Cruz signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. In 9 appearances, including 2 starts, he worked to a 1–1 record and 7.80 ERA with 8 walks and 10 strikeouts in 15 innings. After taking the 2019 and 2020 seasons off, Cruz signed with the Mariachis de Guadalajara of the Mexican League on May 20, 2021. He pitched in 26 games for Guadalajara, logging a 4–1 record and 2.73 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 14 saves in 26 1/3 innings pitched.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2022–2024)
On February 1, 2022, Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization and was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin the year. With Louisville, he was 4–4 with a 2.89 ERA in 56 innings and finished second in the minor leagues with 23 saves.
On September 1, 2022, Cruz was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut the following day, at age 32. He finished his rookie campaign making 14 appearances for Cincinnati, pitching to a 1.23 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings.
Cruz pitched in 58 games for the Reds during the 2023 season, posting a 1-2 record and 4.91 ERA with 98 strikeouts over 66 innings of work. He made 69 appearances for Cincinnati in 2024, compiling a 3-8 record and 4.86 ERA with 109 strikeouts across 66 2/3 innings pitched.
New York Yankees Era (2025–Present)
On December 20, 2024, the Reds traded Cruz and Alex Jackson to the New York Yankees in exchange for Jose Trevino. The trade brought Cruz to a perennial contender and inserted him into a bullpen that values high strikeout totals.
Cruz has since settled into a middle-relief role with the Yankees, generating swings and misses with his breaking ball while providing multi-inning bridges to the late-inning relievers. His transition into a high-leverage setup arm has been one of the quietly important storylines of the Yankees’ bullpen in 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cruz leans on a power breaking ball as his primary swing-and-miss offering, pairing it with a fastball that generates above-average strikeout rates. His ability to miss bats in all counts has translated into a strikeout-heavy profile at the Major League level, making him a natural fit for late-inning work.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cruz’s Major League debut on September 2, 2022, came at age 32 and capped a long journey through independent and international baseball. He also represented Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and 2026, an honor that underscored his standing within the national program.
Fernando Cruz Career Wins
Cruz’s career wins are spread across the minor leagues, independent baseball, the Mexican League, and Major League Baseball. His strongest win totals came during his time with the New Jersey Jackals and in the upper minors, while his Major League work has centered on high-leverage relief appearances rather than regular starting opportunities.
Major League Highlights
Cruz has notched Major League decisions with both the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees, with his career win-loss record listed at 11–17 through the 2026 season in published statistics. His debut season with Cincinnati produced a 1.23 ERA across 14 appearances, and he has since become a dependable bullpen piece for the Yankees.
Other Wins & Performances
During his time with the New Jersey Jackals, Cruz posted a 6–3 record in 2016 and a 4–2 record in 2017, while his 2021 season with the Mariachis de Guadalajara featured a 4–1 record and 14 saves. Earlier in his career, he won decisions with the rookie-level affiliates of the Royals organization before transitioning to pitching full-time.
Fernando Cruz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available details about Cruz’s family background are limited. His selection in the 2007 MLB draft as a teenager from Puerto Rico established him as a prospect within the Royals’ organization.
Personal Life
Information about Cruz’s personal life, including marital status and family outside of baseball, has not been publicly documented in widely available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Cruz entered the 2025 season as a key middle-relief option for the New York Yankees following the December 2024 trade from Cincinnati. Wearing number 63 in pinstripes, he has provided multi-inning support for the late-inning trio of Yankees relievers, allowing the team to manage high-leverage spots throughout the regular season.
Through the early portion of the 2025 campaign, Cruz has continued to generate swings and misses at a high rate, helping to offset the workload of the Yankees’ primary setup arms. His role has grown as the Yankees have leaned on bullpen depth during the playoff push.
Looking ahead, Cruz is expected to remain a fixture in the Yankees’ relief corps, with his strikeout profile giving the team a flexible weapon against both left-handed and right-handed hitters. His international experience and prior work in high-pressure environments with Cincinnati and in the Mexican League suggest he is well suited for October baseball.
