José Cruz (pitcher)

José Leonidas Cruz (born May 18, 2000) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization.

Career
Cruz was born in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. On July 2, 2017, Cruz signed with the San Francisco Giants organization as an international free agent.

Pitching for the DSL Giants in 2018 he was 2–2 with five saves and a 4.88 ERA in 20 relief appearances. Cruz played for the rookie–level Arizona League Giants in 2019, and was 2–3 with one save and a 4.50 ERA in 14 games (3 starts) in which he pitched 46 innings. Cruz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Cruz returned to action with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Giants. In 19 relief appearances, he was 3–1 with five saves, a 4.44 ERA, and 42 strikeouts (15.5 strikeouts per 9 innings) across $24 1⁄3$ innings.

In 2022 with the Single-A San Jose Giants, he was 2–1 with 6 saves in 6 opportunities in 38 relief appearances, as in $52 1⁄3$ innings he gave up 21 hits and struck out 86 batters (14.8 strikeouts per 9 innings). Post-season he was named a California League All Star, and named the “Best Relief Pitcher Prospect” in the California League by Baseball America. On November 15, 2022, the Giants added Cruz to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Cruz was optioned to the High–A Eugene Emeralds to begin the 2023 season. In 36 appearance split between Eugene and the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels, he compiled a 4.47 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 5 saves across $44 1⁄3$ innings pitched. On November 17, 2023, the Giants non–tendered Cruz, making him a free agent.

On November 20, 2023, Cruz re-signed with the Giants organization on a minor league contract.