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 by the Kansas City Royals as an infielder, Cruz transitioned to pitching and has built a career through the minor leagues, independent baseball, and international play in Mexico before reaching the majors with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Fernando E. Cruz was born on March 28, 1990, and grew up in Puerto Rico, where baseball is the dominant sport. As a young amateur, his size and arm strength drew the attention of professional scouts, leading to his selection in the 2007 MLB draft. Cruz came up as a position player, which shaped his early view of the game and gave him an infielder’s perspective before later moving to the mound.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Kansas City Royals selected Cruz in the sixth round, 186th overall, of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft as an infielder. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals and spent the following two seasons with the rookie-level Burlington Royals, appearing in a total of 157 games across those two years.
Cruz converted to pitching in 2011 and bounced through the lower levels of the Royals system before being released on October 3, 2012. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization on December 19, 2014, splitting the 2015 season between the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, and was released during Spring Training on March 29, 2016.
Fernando Cruz Career
Independent and International Leagues (2016–2021)
After his release from the Cubs, Cruz signed with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League on April 17, 2016, and found his footing as a pitcher. In his first season with the Jackals, he posted a 6–3 record and 2.63 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 12 saves in 72 innings across 34 appearances, establishing himself as a reliable late-inning option in independent baseball.
Cruz later played for the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League in 2018 and the Mariachis de Guadalajara of the Mexican League in 2021, where he logged a 4–1 record and 2.73 ERA with 14 saves in 26+1⁄3 innings. These independent and international stints allowed him to develop his command and repertoire as a relief pitcher.
Cincinnati Reds Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization on February 1, 2022, and was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats, where he went 4–4 with a 2.89 ERA in 56 innings and finished second in the minor leagues with 23 saves. On September 1, 2022, Cincinnati selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time, and he made his MLB debut the following day at age 32.
He finished his rookie campaign with 14 appearances for the Reds, pitching to a 1.23 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 14+2⁄3 innings. In 2023, Cruz appeared in 58 games for Cincinnati, going 1–2 with a 4.91 ERA and 98 strikeouts over 66 innings, and in 2024 he made 69 appearances, posting a 3–8 record and 4.86 ERA with 109 strikeouts across 66+2⁄3 innings.
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 move gave Cruz a fresh opportunity in a new organization and positioned him in a deep Yankees bullpen.
Cruz has also represented Puerto Rico in international competition, including the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His path from a 2007 infield draft pick to a major league reliever reflects years of persistence across multiple leagues and countries.
Notable Events and Milestones
His MLB debut on September 2, 2022, at age 32 came after more than a decade in the minors and independent baseball, marking one of the longer journeys to the majors in recent memory. His 1.23 ERA as a rookie with the Reds stood as an early highlight of his major league career.
Fernando Cruz Career Highlights
Across the Can-Am League, Mexican League, and Major League Baseball, Cruz has accumulated a long list of outings as a relief pitcher, with his strongest stretch coming in Triple-A Louisville and during his rookie season with Cincinnati.
MLB Highlights
Cruz made his MLB debut on September 2, 2022, with the Cincinnati Reds and went on to appear in 14 games that season, posting a 1.23 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 14+2⁄3 innings. In 2023 he added 58 appearances and 98 strikeouts, and in 2024 he logged 69 appearances and 109 strikeouts for the Reds before being traded to the New York Yankees.
Other Wins and Performances
In independent baseball with the New Jersey Jackals in 2016, Cruz registered 12 saves with a 2.63 ERA, and in 2021 with the Mariachis de Guadalajara he added 14 saves and a 2.73 ERA. He also appeared for the Pericos de Puebla in the Mexican League in 2018.
Fernando Cruz Family
Personal Life
Fernando E. Cruz is a Puerto Rican baseball player who has spent his professional career split between the United States and Mexico. Detailed public information about his family and personal life is limited.
2025 Season Performance
Cruz is set to begin his first season with the New York Yankees in 2025 after being acquired in a December 2024 trade from the Cincinnati Reds. He joins a Yankees bullpen that is looking to remain among the most dominant units in the American League.
After three seasons of major league experience in Cincinnati, including a strong rookie year and heavy usage in 2023 and 2024, Cruz brings high strikeout totals and late-inning experience to New York. His role with the Yankees is expected to focus on relief work, where his power repertoire and track record of swings and misses can be deployed against tough right- and left-handed hitters.
For 2025, the outlook for Cruz centers on staying healthy, continuing to limit damage in high-leverage spots, and providing a bridge to the late innings for New York. His international experience with Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic also adds another competitive chapter as he begins his tenure in pinstripes.