Yovanny Cruz’s latest call-up to the New York Yankees was not a prank, but a serious opportunity for the fireballing reliever. Cruz received his second call-up of the season Tuesday as the Yankees continue to search for solutions to solidify their bullpen.
"Yeah, very grateful to be back. Obviously, it’s a great opportunity to be up here," Cruz said through a translator. "I was just in my room last night, and I got the call — I thought it was the guys playing a joke on me. But obviously it was the manager telling me I was going to the big leagues again."
This marks another audition for the 26-year-old righty, who had promising performances in spring training and made his MLB debut on May 20 against Toronto. In that debut, Cruz pitched 2 ¹/₃ scoreless innings across two games. While in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he posted a 3.18 earned run average in 24 appearances.
Mentioned as a potential asset for the Yankees due to his fastball that can exceed 100 mph, Cruz acknowledges that command of his pitches is crucial for success at the major league level. "It’s something that gave me a little bit of trouble last year, and I think commanding the strike zone has improved much more this year," he stated. In addition to his fastball, Cruz also utilizes a slider that can reach 90 mph.
Despite his velocity, Cruz recorded 4.1 walks per nine innings in Triple-A and understands the need to improve his control in the majors. "Besides the velo, to be effective up here, you just gotta be able to use all of your pitches and command very well the strike zone," he said.
Cruz's recent call-up coincided with Yerry De los Santos being optioned back to Triple-A and comes as the Yankees have lost five consecutive games. Although the bullpen is considered a strength for the team, the Yankees may still be seeking additional relief help before the August 3 trade deadline.
After spending eight years in the minor leagues and playing in the Cubs, Padres, and Red Sox organizations, Cruz is eager to secure a permanent spot with the Yankees and provide an internal solution for general manager Brian Cashman. "Seeing how close-knit the group is here, definitely feels like a family, like a team," he commented.