Fernando Cruz (baseball)

Fernando E. Cruz (born March 28, 1990) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with Cincinnati in 2022 at the age of 32, 15 years after he was initially drafted by the Kansas City Royals as an infielder.

Kansas City Royals
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.

Chicago Cubs
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. 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.

New Jersey Jackals
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.

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.

Pericos de Puebla
On August 10, 2018, Cruz signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. 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.

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

Cincinnati Reds
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.

International career
Cruz played for the Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.