Fernando Cruz

Bats B Throws R6'2" 205 lbBorn 1990 Bayamon, P.R.Debut 2022Team NYYDraft 2007 R6 #186 Kansas City Royals, Puerto Rico Advancement College HSContract 1 y/$1.45M (26) 2026: $1,450,000

Projections

Season	BF	K%	BB%	HR%	1B%	XBH%	PITCH+
2026	181	31.0	10.1	2.66	20.7	6.41	104.8
2027							104.5
2028							105.1

Projected rates are per plate appearance or batter faced; counting stats scale with projected playing time. Statcast measurements inform these projections as inputs and are reported as measurements, not projected.

Most similar through age 35

His ten closest age-35 comparables averaged 93 PITCH+ the next season; 9 of 10 played. Averages cover only the players who got a next season, which is why the played count matters.

#	Player	Through	PITCH+ then	Next season	Next PA / BF
1	Joe Borowski	2006	106.9	100.8	292
2	Richard Bleier	2022	106.8	92.9	132
3	Jamie Walker	2007	109.6	75.3	178
4	Ryan Brasier	2023	109.8	115.3	110
5	Caleb Thielbar	2022	110.6	110.5	120
6	Yoshihisa Hirano	2019	109.0	71.3	63
7	Brendan Donnelly	2007	108.0	78.0	69
8	Jim Mecir	2005	107.7	did not play
9	Jason Grilli	2012	104.7	114.6	202
10	Joey Eischen	2005	103.3	76.8	83

Pitching

Year	Team	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	BF	HR	BB	SO	PITCH+
2027 proj									181				104.5
2026*									224				103.1	100.6	103.7
2025	NYY	3	4	3.56	49	0	2	48.0	200	5	24	72	108.7	100.8	109.6
2024	CIN	3	8	4.86	69	3	0	66.7	288	9	35	109	102.9	101.8	104.7
2023	CIN	1	2	4.91	58	2	0	66.0	279	6	28	98	109.4	101.7	111.1
2022	CIN	0	1	1.23	14	2	0	14.7	64	1	9	21	115.5	103.0	118.5
Career		7	15	4.28	190	7	2	195.3	831	21	96	300	107.5		109.1

Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	Inn	PO	A	E	Fld%	Runs saved
2025	NYY	P	49	48	4	2	0	1.000	+0.2
2024	CIN	P	69	67	2	7	0	1.000	+0.6
2023	CIN	P	58	66	6	3	1	0.900	+0.6
2022	CIN	P	14	15	0	1	0	1.000	+0.2

Runs saved covers the Statcast era; for catchers it includes framing.

Minor leagues

Year	Level	Team	Side	PA / BF	Line	AVG / ERA	OPS
2011	A	Kane County Cougars	Bat	46	0 HR, 0 SB	0.227	0.471
2010	A	Burlington Bees	Bat	407	0 HR, 2 SB	0.221	0.536
2009	Rk	Burlington Royals	Bat	200	3 HR, 2 SB	0.277	0.702
2008	Rk	Burlington Royals	Bat	205	0 HR, 3 SB	0.237	0.543
2007	Rk	AZL Royals	Bat	200	1 HR, 0 SB	0.210	0.519
2022	AAA	Louisville Bats	Pit	225	56.0 IP, 29% K	2.89
2018	AAA	Pericos de Puebla	Pit	67	15.0 IP, 15% K	7.80
2015	AAA	Iowa Cubs	Pit	24	4.0 IP, 8% K	22.50
2015	AA	Tennessee Smokies	Pit	146	31.1 IP, 21% K	5.50
2015	A+	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	Pit	139	33.1 IP, 18% K	3.81
2012	Rk	Idaho Falls Chukars	Pit	169	35.1 IP, 22% K	6.92
2011	Rk	ACL Royals	Pit	121	23.2 IP, 14% K	8.15

Splits

Year	vs LHP	vs RHP	Home	Away
2026	0.295	0.308	0.299	0.303
2025	0.315	0.269	0.315	0.256
2024	0.377	0.269	0.325	0.304
2023	0.337	0.266	0.294	0.303
2022	0.209	0.336	0.206	0.328

wOBA by split, from pitch level data, 2015 on. For pitchers the split is the batter side faced.

Postseason pitching

Year	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
2025	0	0	2.81	4	0	0	3.2	3	0	2	4	1.56
Career	0	0	2.81	4	0	0	3.2	3	0	2	4	1.56