Fernando Cruz (baseball)

The Kansas City Royals selected Cruz in the sixth round, 186th overall, of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft as an infielder.[1][2] 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.[3] 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.

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.[4] He spent the 2015 season split between three affiliates: the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. In 32 combined games, he pitched to a 3-4 record and 5.64 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 3 saves in 68.2 innings pitched. He was released by the Cubs during Spring Training the following year on March 29, 2016.[5]

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 72.0 innings pitched.[6]

In 2017, Cruz made 7 starts for the club, posting a 4-2 record and 2.82 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 51.0 innings of work. He made only 1 start with the team in 2018, earning the win after tossing 8.1 innings and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts.[7]

On August 10, 2018, Cruz signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League.[8] In 9 appearances (2 starts) to close out the year, Cruz worked to a 1-1 record and 7.80 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 15.0 innings of work. He became a free agent after the season.

After taking the 2019 and 2020 seasons off, Cruz signed with the Mariachis de Guadalajara of the Mexican League on May 20, 2021.[9] 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 innings pitched.

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.[1] With Louisville, he was 4–4 with a 2.89 ERA in 56 innings, and second in the minor leagues with 23 saves.[10]

On September 1, 2022, Cruz was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[1][11] He made his MLB debut the following day, at age 32.[12] He finished his rookie campaign making 14 appearances for Cincinnati, pitching to a 1.23 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.