Fernando Cruz #48

Began the 2023 season rated No. 33 on Baseball America's Reds Top 40 Prospects list...Was on the 2023 World Baseball Classic provisional roster for Team Puerto Rico...In 2022 received the Mary E. Barney Award as Class AAA Louisville's Most Valuable Player...In 2022 led all Class AAA pitchers in saves...Was the Reds' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August 2022...In the 3-2 win on 9/2/22 vs COL, at 32 years, 158 days old was the oldest Reds player to make his Major League debut since LHP/OF Pat Scantlebury pitched vs STL on 4/19/56 at age 38 years, 160 days...Was selected by the Royals as a shortstop in the sixth round of the June 2007 draft...was signed by Johnny Ramos...On 10/3/12 was released by the Royals...On 12/20/14 was signed by the Cubs...was released on 3/29/16 and didn't pitch again for a traditional MLB-affiliated team until 2022, when he signed with the Reds...From 2016-18 played in the independent Canadian-American Association...From 2011-2022 played for eight teams in the Puerto Rican Winter League (196g, 19gs, 24-14, 2.80, 28sv, 318.1ip, 269h, 108bb, 280k), where he was a two-time All-Star and the 2019 PRWL Pitcher of the Year...Also played in the Venezuelan Winter League (2017-2018 for Caribes), Mexican League (2020-2021 for Puebla, Guadalajara and Jalisco) and Dominican Winter League (2020-2021 for Licey)...During the 2011 season was converted to pitcher by the Royals...In 1,061 plate apps as a minor league batter hit .232/.268/.293.

2022

Received the Mary E. Barney Award as Class AAA Louisville's Most Valuable Player...Was promoted to the Reds on 9/1, when rosters expanded, and in his Major League debut posted a 1.23 ERA in two starts and 12 relief apps...Prior to the 2022 season, last pitched for a traditional MLB-affiliated organization in 2015...In the 3-2 win on 9/2 vs COL made his Major League debut with a perfect sixth inning (Brendan Rodgers K, Charlie Blackmon F7, C.J. Cron K)...At 32 years, 158 days old was the oldest Reds player to make his Major League debut since LHP/OF Pat Scantlebury pitched vs StL on 4/19/56 at age 38 years, 160 days...Was the 62nd player (extending the 2022 club record), 35th pitcher (tying the 2021 club record) and, in his sixth appearance, the 17th starter (tying the 2003 record) to appear in a game for the Reds in 2022...Threw 1.2 hitless innings in each of his two starts as an "opener," a 1-0 loss on 9/13/g2 vs Pit and a 6-5 loss 9/16 at StL...in each start was followed by LHP Reiver Sanmartin...entered the 2022 season with five professional starts, all in 2015...Made his first Major League start in the night game of a doubleheader on 9/13 vs Pit...retired all five batters... became the 17th pitcher to start a game for the Reds, tying their 2003 single-season record...In his next appearance, started the 6-5 loss on 9/16 at STL...retired his first five batters until he hit Albert Pujols with a pitch, snapping at 18 his streak of consecutive batters retired over 5 apps dating back to 9/6...On 9/16 and 9/17/g2 at STL became the second Reds pitcher in 2022 to start one day and then pitch in relief the next day (Dauri Moreta, 5/7 & 5/8 vs Pit)...prior to the 2022 season, Tim Birtsas in 1989 was the last Reds pitcher to do so...Retired the first batter in eight of his 12 relief appearances...stranded six of 11 inherited runners, including the bases loaded on 9/10 at MIL...Twice pitched on consecutive days (9/10 & 9/11 at Mil, 9/16 & 9/17/g2 at StL)...Three times threw more than 1.0 inning in relief, including a season-high 1.2 innings out of the bullpen on 10/2 at Cubs...On 1/27/22 was signed by the Reds to a minor league contract...Spent the minor league season at Louisville, where he converted 23 saves in 31 chances (51g, 1.04whip, .198baa)...Led all Class AAA pitchers with 23 saves...when promoted on 9/1, was tied for the International League lead with 51 appearances and ranked second in the IL with 56.0 relief innings pitched...In his last 27 apps for the Bats beginning 6/19 posted a 1.13 ERA and 0.84 WHIP (32ip, 9bb, 40k, .161baa) while stranding all 16 inherited runners...Was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August (13g, 1-0-6, 2.03, 13.1ip, 7h, 4bb, 21k, 0.83whip, .156baa)...Following the season played for Santurce in the Puerto Rican Winter League (7g, 1-0, 0.00, 2sv, 6.2ip, 1h, 0bb, 9k).