Fernando Cruz’s baseball journey from an infield draft to a major league reliever is a testament to resilience and adaptability. After struggling to prove his worth in the minors for 10 years, he made his MLB debut in 2022 with an attention-grabbing rookie campaign. As the New York Yankees bolster their bullpen ahead of the 2025 season, they acquired the high-octane reliever in a trade on December 20, 2024.
As the move that has stirred considerable interest among fans and analysts alike, making Fernando Cruz step into the spotlight, let’s dive into his background, career, and what he brings to the Yankees bullpen.
Fernando Cruz’s career beginnings
Fernando Cruz was born on March 28, 1990, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, a city known for producing talented baseball players. From a young age, he exhibited a strong arm and a passion for baseball, playing primarily as an infielder during his early years.
Fernando Cruz was initially drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 6th round of the 2007 MLB Draft as an infielder. After two years in the minors with unremarkable hitting stats, he made a bold transition to pitching in 2011. This switch proved pivotal, as it rejuvenated his career prospects. His fastball, which consistently hits the mid-90s, and a sharp-breaking slider quickly became his go-to weapons on the mound. Over the years, Fernando Cruz honed his skills in various minor leagues, gradually climbing up the ranks with impressive strikeout numbers and a knack for high-pressure situations.
Struggling to find his footing in the majors, Fernando Cruz’s tenure in the Royals’ farm came to an end in October 2012. His final statistics with them – a bloated 6.88 ERA across 35.1 innings, with 38 strikeouts and just 3 saves – led to his release. The next two years saw him absent from affiliated baseball entirely.
He found his next opportunity when the Chicago Cubs offered him a minor league deal in December 2014. However, Fernando Cruz’s performance (5.64 ERA, 58 strikeouts, and 3 saves over 68.2 innings) wasn’t enough to secure a spot, leading to his release during 2016’s spring training.
Minor League struggles and Mexican detour
Fernando Cruz’s journey through the minors was not straightforward. In 2018, he then charted a different path, spending two seasons with the Can-Am League’s New Jersey Jackals before heading south to Mexico. There, he suited up for the Pericos de Puebla.
After a two-year hiatus from professional baseball in 2019 and 2020, Fernando Cruz returned to Mexican baseball, signing with the Mariachis de Guadalajara in May 2021. His perseverance through less glamorous parts of professional baseball underscored his determination and love for the game.
Major League breakthrough
Determined for one final shot at major league glory, Fernando Cruz passed up Mexican League opportunities in 2022, instead accepting a minor-league contract with Cincinnati. His gamble with the Reds organization proved shrewd – assigned to Triple-A Louisville, he dominated with a stellar 2.89 ERA across 56 innings, converting 23 saves (second-best in the minors) while posting a 4-4 record.
The persistence paid off. On September 1, 2022, at age 32, Fernando Cruz achieved his dream when Cincinnati added him to their 40-man roster. His major league debut came the next day, launching an impressive rookie showing: 14 appearances with a sparkling 1.23 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.
Despite the late start, the reliever quickly established himself as a reliable bullpen arm. His perseverance and improvements did not go unnoticed, as he was often among the top relievers in strikeouts and saves in the minor leagues. Over his brief MLB tenure with the Reds, Fernando Cruz demonstrated a potent mix of pitches, characterized by a fastball that could touch the upper 90s and a deceptive slider that made him particularly tough on right-handed hitters.
His three-season tenure with the Reds revealed both brilliance and volatility: a 4.52 ERA and 228 strikeouts over 147 1/3 innings, with a 4-11 record. Cruz’s elite strikeout ability (37.8% rate, top 1% in MLB) was counterbalanced by control issues (12.2% walk rate, bottom 7%). Known for his perpetual smile, Fernando Cruz became a cherished presence in Cincinnati’s clubhouse. His signature weapon – a devastating split-finger fastball described as “knuckleball-like” by catchers – Fernando Cruz humbly calls his “gift from God.” Despite using this pitch nearly 42% of the time, batters still whiffed on an astounding 59.3% of attempts.
In 2024, Fernando Cruz appeared in 69 games, posting a 4.86 ERA and 1.335 WHIP. The 34-year-old’s strikeout prowess remained exceptional – 14.7 K/9, with 109 strikeouts against 35 walks in 66.2 innings, ranking fourth among all MLB relievers. For perspective, Yankees’ Luke Weaver led their bullpen with 103 strikeouts that year. His Reds career spans 141 appearances with a 4.52 ERA and an impressive 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings, marking one of baseball’s more remarkable late-blooming careers.
Joining the Yankees
The trade to the Yankees in 2024 came as part of a deal for catcher Jose Trevino.
Cruz began the 2025 season strong for the Yankees before setbacks surfaced. In 21 relief outings prior to late May, he compiled a 1–2 record, two saves and a 2.66 ERA, showing his value as a late-inning arm. His command and splitter became a weapon, helping him maintain a high strikeout rate and keep runs off the board in tight spots. Manager Aaron Boone praised Cruz’s ability to induce swings and misses, especially when the game was on the line.
Series of injuries slow momentum
In May, the Yankees placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, halting his early run of success. New York’s medical staff worked carefully to manage his workload and ensure a measured return.
Later in June, Cruz suffered a high-grade left oblique strain during a pregame workout, a setback more severe than the earlier shoulder issue. The Yankees announced that the oblique injury would sideline him for weeks or potentially months, forcing New York to shuffle bullpen roles. Boone described the injury as “pretty painful,” noting the challenge it posed to bullpen continuity.
Return to action and late-season contributions
After the oblique strain, Cruz remained sidelined through late summer before returning to the Yankees’ active roster on Aug. 26, 2025. His reinstatement was welcomed as the club sought veteran arms down the stretch of a close AL East race. At the time of his return, he had posted a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 14 walks in 33 innings before injury, demonstrating the quality he brought to New York’s bullpen before the lengthy absence. His return immediately added depth to the relief corps and helped stabilize late-game matchups as the Yankees fought division leaders.
In the 2025 regular season, Cruz appeared in 49 games for the Yankees, compiling a 3.56 ERA, 72 strikeouts, two saves and a 1.19 WHIP across roughly 48 innings pitched. He tied for 90th in MLB saves among relievers and delivered a high strikeout total that ranked him among the more effective late-inning arms in the league. His performance was highlighted by strong strikeout metrics — including a strikeout rate in the top quartile of relievers — and effective use of his splitter, which generated swings and misses throughout the year.
Cruz also avoided arbitration after the season, settling on a $1.45 million salary for 2026 with the New York Yankees. The deal reflects New York’s appreciation for his contributions and the expectation he will remain part of the bullpen mix heading into next season.
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