AUGUST 1, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YANKEES ACQUIRE CATCHER OMAR ALFONZO AND OUTFIELDER LUIS CRUZ
The New York Yankees today announced that they have acquired minor league catcher Omar Alfonzo and minor league outfielder Luis Cruz from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitcher Camilo Doval and cash considerations.
Alfonzo, 22, has combined to hit .238/.337/.419 (50-for-210) with 30R, 11 doubles, 9HR, 35RBI and 30BB in 62 games with Double-A Altoona (60G), the FCL Pirates (1G) and Single-A Bradenton (1G). Over six minor league seasons in the Pirates organization (2021-26), the left-handed batter has hit .240/.360/.386 (330-for-1,373) with 196R, 60 doubles, 4 triples, 44HR, 198RBI and 242BB in 420 games. The Minneapolis, Minn., native was signed by the Pirates a non-drafted free agent on August 5, 2019.
Cruz, 18, has combined to hit .300/.463/.380 (15-for-50) with 14R, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 8RBI, 14BB and 7SB in 18 games with the DSL Pirates Gold (16G) and DSL Pirates Black (2G). In two minor league seasons in the Pirates organization (2025-26), the left-handed hitter has batted .260/.421/.333 (39-for-150) with 33R, 5 doubles, 3 triples, 26RBI, 37BB and 13SB in 57 games. The Santo Domingo Este, D.R., native was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent on January 15, 2025.
Doval, 29, has gone 3-1 with one save and a 4.54 ERA (39.2IP, 38H, 29R/20ER, 18BB, 39K, 6HR) in 44 relief appearances with the Yankees this season. As a Yankee (2025-26), the right-hander has gone 3-2 with two saves and a 4.63 ERA (58.1IP, 57H, 43R/30ER, 29BB, 61K, 8HR). He was acquired by the Yankees from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor leaguers C Jesús Rodríguez, RHP Trystan Vrieling, INF Parks Harber and LHP Carlos de la Rosa on July 31, 2025. Over parts of six Major League seasons with the San Francisco Giants (2021-25) and Yankees (2025-26), he has gone 29-20 with 109 saves and a 3.53 ERA (326.1IP, 267H, 167R/128ER, 157BB, 393K, 26HR) in 341 relief appearances. The Yamasá, D.R., was originally signed by San Francisco as a non-drafted free agent on October 28, 2015.
—nyy—