NYY · P

Fernando Cruz

Age 36 B/T R/R 6′2″, 237 lb Puerto Rico MLB debut 2022

40-man

The Yankees’ roster as it stands late-inning relief · 44 IP · 0.3 WAR in the role
Injured list Ended 2026 on the 60-day IL: Right elbow discomfort (since Aug 26)
Trade read Unlikely to be traded: NYY expects to contend (61% playoff odds) and he’s one of its best relievers.

Keystone Stuff 102 56th pct

2026 fWAR 0.4

Projected 2027 WAR 0.3 at 41 IP · 0.3 in his 2027 role

Pitching · 2026 percentiles

vs. MLB pitchers with 500+ pitches · 944 pitches

Keystone Stuff 102

Keystone Location 83

Keystone Pitching 94

Run value (xRV) +0.67

Strikeout % 28.6%

Walk % 13.7%

Whiff % 39.1%

Chase % 29.3%

Fastball velo 93.1

Extension 6.9 ft

54.2 IP3.13 ERA4.18 FIP 47° arm2 SV

Arsenal & Pitch Lab

Movement normalized to arm side · Keystone Stuff by pitch

RHP · arm angle 47° · how to read

Pitch	Use	Velo	IVB	HB	Stuff	Loc	Whiff	xRV/100
Splitter51% use	51%	80.0	1.4	+4.2	106	82	52%	+1.87
Four-seam32% use	32%	93.2	17.1	+5.4	93	99	13%	−1.08
Sweeper14% use	14%	82.2	4.2	−12.7	105	95	39%	+0.83
Sinker3% use	3%	92.6	13.5	+13.6	93	85	17%	−1.78

No mix change or new pitch clears its bar. The arsenal is efficient for its shapes.

Most similar pitchers

Pitches like Cruz: same hand, shape, slot and mix

Similarity	Player	Stuff	’26 WAR	’27 proj	2027
28	Anthony Nunez BAL · ’01	109	0.6	0.6	—
20	Cade Smith CLE · ’99	112	2.6	2.1	Arb
14	Chase Silseth TEX · ’00	98	0.4	0.3	Pre-arb
14	Cole Sulser TB · ’90	100	0.6	0.2	Arb
14	Kyle Finnegan DET · ’91	106	−0.8	0.0	Signed $8.0M

Same-handed pitchers nearest on fastball velocity and shape, arm angle, extension, pitch mix, secondary shapes, Stuff, whiff rate and workload. 2026 regulars only.

Pitch locations · 2026

Where each pitch finishes, by batter side

Splitter 53%

30% zone

Four-seam 35%

48% zone

Sweeper 10%

44% zone

Where each pitch finishes, catcher’s view. The bar marks the batter’s side; the box is an average strike zone. Pitches with 40+ thrown to this side.

Contract & projection

Club control (RosterResource) · Keystone projected WAR

2027 0.3 WAR Arbitration $3.1M*

2028 0.1 WAR Arbitration $4.0M*

2029 0.0 WAR Free agent

2030 −0.1 WAR Free agent

* projected arbitration or minimum salary. Contract Studio →

Minor leagues

MLB Stats API · public box-score data

SeasonLevel	Level	Team	Age	G	PA / IP	PA / IP ·Line
2025AA	AA	Somerset Patriots	35	2	2.1 IP	2.1 IP · 3.86 ERA · 50.0% K · 10.0% BB
2025AAA	AAA	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders	35	2	1.1 IP	1.1 IP · 27.00 ERA · 11.1% K · 11.1% BB

ABS challenges · 2026

Baseball Savant

As pitcher 0% 0/1 won · −0.1 runs