Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, acquired by the Yankees from the Boston Red Sox in a trade for Carlos Narvaez this past winter, is quickly becoming one of the top pitching prospects in the organization. After striking out nine batters in a dominant 6.2 innings of one-run ball, Cruz followed up with an even more impressive performance, throwing another 6.2 shutout innings last night.
With a fastball that hits 99 MPH and a diverse pitch arsenal, Cruz is showing excellent strike-throwing abilities, which could see him promoted to Double-A sooner than expected. At just 21 years old, Cruz might already be on the path to becoming a top-100 prospect for the Yankees.
Savvy Trade Paying Off for Yankees
When the Yankees traded for Cruz, many analysts recognized his potential, with FanGraphs ranking him as the sixth-best prospect in the organization and Baseball America placing him in their top 20. Cruz’s 95-96 MPH fastball, along with his two distinct fastball shapes, are setting him apart as an elite pitching prospect. His four-seam fastball works well at the top of the zone, while his sinker is excellent for generating ground balls. His sweeping slider and knockout curveball add to his impressive repertoire, while his splitter is gaining attention for its depth and effectiveness against batters.
While Cruz’s command was previously a concern, his early performance with the Yankees shows significant improvement. His first-pitch strike rate is up, allowing him to get ahead of hitters and use his secondary pitches to generate swings and misses.
Early Success and Future Potential
Though it’s still early in the season, Cruz’s improved command is evident, and if it continues, he could be one of the first pitchers to move up from Hudson Valley to Somerset. Cruz is also Rule 5 eligible in the offseason, making him a candidate to be fast-tracked to the big leagues in the next year or two if the Yankees continue to see growth.
As of now, Cruz leads all High-A pitchers with 30 strikeouts and holds the 6th-lowest WHIP (0.72) in his league. With a solid ERA and a solid mix of pitches, the Yankees may have found themselves a hidden gem, potentially securing a top-100 spot for Cruz in national publications.
