15-Day IL
Injury Oblique
Est. Return 8/6/2025
2025 Stats
W-L
2-3
ERA
3.00
WHIP
1.00
K
54
SV
2
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Cruz was one of Cincinnati's highest leverage relievers over the past two seasons, accumulating a 4.88 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 207:63 K:BB over 132.2 innings with the Reds. However, a trade to the Yankees likely bumps him down to a lower leverage middle relief role for 2025. The 34-year-old righty continues to rack up a ton of strikeouts (109 in 2024) with one of the filthiest splitters (.116 BAA, .149 SLG, 59.3 percent whiff) in the league, but his secondary offerings get crushed and his 11.4 percent career walk rate cannot be ignored. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year contract with the Yankees in March of 2025.
Dealing with severe oblique strain
Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Cruz (oblique) has a "high grade" strain, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Analysis
"Obviously, that will be some time," Boone added. Cruz was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday after he was injured in the weight room Sunday. Cruz is likely looking at an extended absence. The 35-year-old holds a 3.00 ERA and impressive 54:14 K:BB across 33 innings of relief this season.
"Obviously, that will be some time," Boone added. Cruz was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday after he was injured in the weight room Sunday. Cruz is likely looking at an extended absence. The 35-year-old holds a 3.00 ERA and impressive 54:14 K:BB across 33 innings of relief this season.
Pitching Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
17
Last 10 Games
14
Last 5 Games
16
How many pitches does Fernando Cruz generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Fernando Cruz generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-24%
BAA vs RHP
2025
-25%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .238 | 103 | 41 | 62 | 10 | |||
| Since 2023vs Right | .180 | 158 | 36 | 63 | 8 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .196 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 1 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .147 | 35 | 9 | 10 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .264 | 41 | 18 | 28 | 6 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .181 | 68 | 17 | 26 | 3 | |||
| 2023vs Left | .231 | 43 | 18 | 25 | 3 | |||
| 2023vs Right | .196 | 55 | 10 | 27 | 3 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-14%
ERA on Road
2025
-39%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | 4.84 | 1.26 | 87.1 | 15.6 | 4.5 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | 4.14 | 1.17 | 78.1 | 12.6 | 3.8 | ||||
| 2025Home | 2.37 | 1.11 | 19.0 | 14.2 | 4.3 | ||||
| 2025Away | 3.86 | 0.86 | 14.0 | 15.4 | 3.2 | ||||
| 2024Home | 5.45 | 1.32 | 36.1 | 16.6 | 4.5 | ||||
| 2024Away | 4.15 | 1.35 | 30.1 | 12.5 | 5.0 | ||||
| 2023Home | 5.63 | 1.28 | 32.0 | 15.2 | 4.8 | ||||
| 2023Away | 4.24 | 1.15 | 34.0 | 11.6 | 2.9 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Fernando Cruz compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
3.86K/9
14.7BB/9
3.8HR/9
0.8Fastball
93.5 mphERA
3.00WHIP
1.00BABIP
.291GB/FB
0.88Left On Base
69.4%Exit Velocity
81.5 mphBarrels/BBE
4.8%Spin Rate
1450 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
26.7%Swinging Strike
20.7%Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
Cruz, who was drafted by the Royals as an infielder in 2007, transitioned to a full-time pitching role in 2011. He'd spend the next decade bouncing around between the minors, independent ranks and foreign leagues before getting his first big league promotion during the 2022 season at age 32. He broke camp with the Reds last season and threw one of the best splitters in baseball, with the 3rd-highest whiff percentage for that pitch type (56.7%) and 2nd-highest Statcast Run Value (11). Cruz finished 2 strikeouts shy of 100 across his 66 innings, and while his 4.91 ERA wasn't great, his 2.83 FIP suggests there is room for improvement in that category. His 2.07 ERA-minus-FIP was 2nd-highest among relief pitchers, while his 23.5% K-BB percentage ranked 16th. Those looking for strikeout upside in the late stages of drafts might consider clicking Cruz's name, but don't expect a ton of high leverage opportunities or save chances.
More Fantasy News
Oblique strain forces IL stint
The Yankees placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left oblique strain.
Analysis
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Fans three, nabs win in relief
Cruz (2-3) earned the win over Baltimore on Sunday, striking out all three batters he faced in a perfect inning of work.
Analysis
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Activated from injured list
The Yankees activated Cruz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis
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Expected back Tuesday
Cruz (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis
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Throws another bullpen session
Cruz (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Analysis
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