Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
The Yankees activated Cruz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Cruz was sidelined for the past two weeks with right shoulder inflammation. He'll skip a rehab assignment and go right back into a Yankees bullpen that just lost Luke Weaver (hamstring).
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Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Expected back Tuesday
Rotowire
Cruz (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Cruz will skip a rehab assignment and go directly back into the Yankees bullpen after tossing an 18-pitch live batting practice session Saturday. He's missed the last two weeks with right shoulder inflammation. The Yankees plan to place Carlos Carrasco on outright waivers in a corresponding move.
Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Throws another bullpen session
Rotowire
Cruz (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
"I feel ready. No pain, no discomfort," Cruz told reporters after Saturday's session. The 35-year-old right-hander is recovering from right shoulder inflammation that caused him to land on the 15-day injured list May 22. Cruz is eligible to be reinstated from the IL on Tuesday and may not require a rehab assignment (barring any setbacks).
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Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Cruz (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Cruz said afterward that his mound session went well, and he's expected to begin facing live hitters Saturday. Assuming he doesn't experience any setbacks over the next several days, he seems to be on track to return when eligible Tuesday.
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Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Placed on 15-day injured list
Rotowire
The Yankees placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation.
Cruz felt a tug in his right trap area recently, which had left him unavailable to pitch. An MRI ruled out structural damage, but he was given a cortisone injection to combat inflammation. According to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record, Cruz was able to throw off flat ground Thursday despite landing on the IL, so he should have a good chance at being ready to go when he's first eligible for activation June 3.
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Yankees' Fernando Cruz: MRI comes back negative
Rotowire
Cruz will play catch Thursday after an MRI on his right shoulder came back negative, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Cruz felt a pull in his right trap area recently that has left him unavailable to pitch recently. He was given a cortisone shot to combat inflammation and the hope is that he will be able to avoid the injured list, but it's not clear when he might be available to pitch again.
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Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Nursing shoulder injury
Rotowire
Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Cruz hasn't been available for the past few days due to a shoulder injury, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Boone didn't go into specifics about the injury, but he noted that imaging on the reliever's shoulder came back negative. With a 2.66 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP over 23.2 innings on the season, the 35-year-old righty has been a reliable high-leverage arm for New York, though it's unclear when he might be cleared to pitch in a game again.
Cruz earned a save against Tampa Bay on Sunday, issuing three walks and striking out one batter over 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings.
Max Fried gave New York 7.2 splendid scoreless frames, and Cruz was called upon in the bottom of the eighth to get the final out after the Rays put a runner on base. Cruz walked the first batter he faced but escaped further danger by getting Junior Caminero to pop out. The Yankees plated a run in the top of the ninth to eliminate a save opportunity for closer Devin Williams, and Cruz ended up finishing off the victory successfully despite issuing two more free passes. It's been a great start to the season for the 35-year-old reliever, as he's posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB over 12 innings while working as one of New York's top high-leverage relievers. Cruz has two saves over his past four appearances, but he's unlikely to see consistent save chances with Williams still the team's primary closer despite some early-season struggles and Luke Weaver the top candidate for most save chances when Williams is unavailable.
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Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Records rare save vs. Royals
Rotowire
Cruz picked up the save in Wednesday's win over the Royals after allowing one hit and one walk in two innings. He struck out two.
With both closer Devin Williams and setup man Luke Weaver having worked each of the past two days, Cruz was given a rare save chance and recorded six outs to get the job done. Cody Bellinger made a spectacular diving catch in right field for the final out of the game. Cruz has a strong 2.79 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB over 9.2 innings this year, but he's unlikely to see more than a handful of save opportunities in 2025 as long as the top of the Yankees' bullpen is healthy.
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Yankees' Fernando Cruz: Showing off strikeout stuff
Rotowire
Through five outings this season, Cruz has a 10:1 K:BB over 5.2 innings while pitching to a 4.76 ERA and 0.71 WHIP and notching one hold.
Cruz's mediocre ERA so far can be attributed to one outing -- he gave up three runs over two-thirds of an inning against Pittsburgh on April 4. In the right-hander's other four appearances, he's held the opponent hitless and scoreless over five frames. Cruz posted a K/9 of 12.9 or better in each of his first three big-league campaigns with the Reds, and he's topping even that impressive mark so far this season with a 15.9 K/9 in the early going of his first year with New York. Cruz has just one hold so far, but he's seen most of his work in the seventh and eighth frames, suggesting that manager Aaron Boone trusts him in high-leverage situations. For fantasy managers in leagues that count holds, Cruz could be worth considering as a waiver-wire target considering his ability to rack up punchouts.
The Reds traded Cruz and Alex Jackson to the Yankees on Friday in exchange for Jose Trevino, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Cruz has spent two full seasons with the Reds, accumulating a 4.88 ERA and 1.27 WHIP alongside a 207:63 K:BB over 132.2 total innings. The 34-year-old righty has plenty of experience handling high-leverage situations, finishing 2024 with 23 holds, but he could be moved into a middle relief role if he continues to surrender runs at a high rate.
Cruz is scheduled to serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the Mets.
He'll be making his third straight appearance as an opener after thriving on the previous two occasions Aug. 28 and 31. He covered five innings in those outings while striking out 11 and allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk. Cruz threw 42 pitches in each of those appearances, so he could be able to push up into the 50-to-55-pitch range Friday if the Reds elect to turn him loose. Jakob Junis and Brandon Williamson are both available on four days' rest and could be options to work in bulk relief once Cruz exits the contest.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Receives another opener assignment
Rotowire
Cruz will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Brewers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
For the second time in five games, Cruz will operate as an opener for the Reds. Despite not having recorded more than six outs in any of his prior 61 appearances this season, Cruz covered three innings as an opener in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Athletics, striking out six while allowing one earned run on two hits and zero walks. Cruz tossed 42 pitches in that outing and will be taking the hill Saturday on just two days' rest, so he shouldn't expected to push up his innings count much, if at all, in his second start of the season.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Opening Wednesday
Rotowire
Cruz will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Cruz has turned in a 5.30 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 52.2 innings this season, and he'll now be called upon to make his first start of the campaign in what will likely be a bullpen game for Cincinnati. Only seven of Cruz's 61 appearances have lasted more than an inning, so he'll presumably be taken out of the game after recording the first three outs.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-2, 237 lbs
Birthplace: Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Age: 35
Experience: 3
Bats/Throws: R, R
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