Fernando Cruz

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. Career 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.