| Steven Cruz | |
|---|---|
 Cruz with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023 | |
| Kansas City Royals – No. 64 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:June 15, 1999 Tenares, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 29, 2023, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics (through September 2,2024) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 3.94 |
| Strikeouts | 17 |
| Teams | |
| |
Steven Adalberto Cruz (born June 15,1999) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
On March 20,2017,Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization. [1] He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Twins,posting a 3.68 ERA in 16 games. The following year,he played for the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Twins,recording a 3.12 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 26.0 innings pitched across 13 appearances. [2] Cruz spent a third straight year in the rookie–league in 2019,playing in 17 games for the Elizabethton Twins and logging a 2.90 ERA with 48 strikeouts. [3]
Cruz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] He returned to action in 2021,playing for the Single–A Fort Myers Miracle and High–A Cedar Rapids Kernels. In 28 combined contests,Cruz pitched to a 4–2 record and 4.32 ERA with 80 strikeouts across 50.0 innings pitched. [5] In 2022,he pitched in 48 games out of the bullpen for the Double–A Wichita Wind Surge,registering a 5.14 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 56.0 innings of work. [6]
On January 24,2023,the Minnesota Twins traded Cruz and Evan Sisk to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Michael A. Taylor. [7] In 43 appearances split between the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers,he worked to a cumulative 3.81 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 9 saves across 49+2⁄3 innings of work. [8] On August 29, Cruz was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [9] In 10 appearances for Kansas City in his rookie campaign, he posted a 4.97 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 12+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Cruz was optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season. [10]