Fernando Cruz

BIOGRAPHY

Fernando Cruz was born March 28, 1990, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

The Kansas City Royals selected Cruz in the sixth round, 186th overall, of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft as an infielder. Cruz made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Royals. He spent the next two seasons with the rookie-level Burlington Royals, playing in a total of 157 games in the two years, hitting .277 and .221 with a cumulative 3 home runs and 44 RBI. Cruz converted into a pitcher in 2011, but struggled in 17 appearances for the AZL Royals, for whom he posted a 2-3 record and 7.99 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 23.2 innings pitched. He spent the 2012 season with the rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars, logging a 4-3 record and 6.88 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 3 saves in 35.1 innings of work. On October 3, 2012, Cruz was released by the Royals organization.

On February 1, 2022, Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization. He 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 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 innings.