Rhiner Cruz #45

Rhiner Allen (Montero) Cruz ... Born on November 1, 1986 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ... Played with his brother, José, on the Spanish national baseball team ... Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 2003.

2017

Returned to action in America for the first time since 2014, having spent 2015 in Japan and 2016 in Mexico ... Played the entire season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves after signing with Atlanta in the off-season ... Posted a record of 1-5 while holding a 2.84 ERA over 40 appearances...His 50.2 innings pitched were his most since the 2013 season (63.0) ... Recorded 63 strikeouts, his highest total since 2011 (69), while walking 24 batters ... Went 1-1 in 16 road games with a 2.21 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .197 batting average ... Allowed just two earned runs in his final 13 outings (15.2 IP).

2016

Spent the season in the Mexican League, pitching out of the bullpen for Yucatan and Laguna...Appeared in seven games with Yucatan, going 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA (5 ER/6.0 IP) and three saves...Made one appearance with Laguna, allowing two runs in 1.0 inning.

2015

Spent his second season with Rakuten of the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization in Japan...Made 52 appearances, good for 15th in the Pacific League...Struck out 42 while allowing just two home runs.

2014

Split the season between Houston's Triple-A club and Rakuten of the NPB in Japan...Started the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City...Appeared in 14 games before the Astros released him on 6/2...Joined Rakuten of NPB to close out the year... Appeared in 29 games out of the bullpen for the Golden Eagles, compiling a 2-2 record and a 3.99 ERA (13 ER/29.1 IP).

2013

Second-year pitcher posted a 3.38 ERA (8ER/21.1IP) across 20 Major League appearances...posted a 2.00 ERA (2ER/9IP) in eight home games and held lefties to a .225 (9x40) opponent's batting average...allowed only one run over his final eight MLB games (9IP) lowering his ERA from 5.11 to 3.38...had two MLB stints this season after making the club out of Spring Training...was with the Astros from Opening Day thru May 1 and from Sept. 8 thru the end of the season...was one of eight players, and one of four pitchers (also, Harrell, Norris, Wright) to appear on both the Astros 2012 and 2013 Opening Day rosters...in his first stint, went 0-1 with a 4.40 ERA (7ER/14.1IP) in 14 games (all coming in April)...led the club and was tied for first in the American League in appearances at the time of his option...posted a 1.29 ERA (1ER/7IP) in his six September outings...pitched for Team Spain in the World Baseball Classic (3ER/1.1IP)...after the WBC, made nine relief appearances for the Astros in Spring Training, giving up just one run in 8.2 innings (1.04 ERA) en route to making the Opening Day roster...struck out six and gave up just five hits...spent four months at Triple A OKC and went 1-2 with two saves and a 4.75 ERA (22ER/41.2IP) in 37 games...allowed a .227 opponent's batting average and fanned 38 in 41.2 innings pitched...following the season, made nine appearances for the Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League and posted a 5.14 ERA (4ER/7.0IP).

2012

Rookie-hurler appeared in 52 games in what was his first action in the Majors...the first overall selection in the Rule 5 Draft ranked fifth in the NL in appearances among rookie relievers...finished fourth on the club in relief appearances and third in relief innings...placed on the DL on April 24 (sprained right ankle)...reinstated on May 9...was 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA (6ER/17.1IP) in 16 appearances through May 31...from June 28-July 18, posted a 1.13 ERA (1ER/8IP) in seven games with three hits allowed (.115 opp. batting average)...allowed 16 runs in his final 22 games...in four games against AL West opponents, posted a 3.38 ERA (2ER/5.1IP) with six strikeouts and no walks...allowed two runs (one earned) in 1.2 innings pitched during a two-game rehab stint with Triple A Oklahoma City...made 16 appearances in the Dominican Winter League in 2012 with Gigantes del Cibao...went 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA (4ER/14IP) and 18 punchouts to go along with a 2.60 groundballs per flyball ratio.

2011

Combined to post a 5-3 record with seven saves and a 3.89 ERA (31ER/71.2IP) in 44 appearances for Double A Binghamton (36g) and Class A St. Lucie (8g)...began the year with St. Lucie and promoted to Binghampton on May 9...after the promotion, went seven for eight in save opportunities and allowed just a .202 (43x213) opponents batting average... was pitching for Cibao in the Dominican Winter League when he was drafted by Houston as the first overall pick in the 2011 Rule 5 Draft...finished his winter ball regular season with no record and a 1.47 ERA (3ER/18.1IP) in 21 appearances

2010

Advanced to Advanced A St. Lucie and made a career-high 51 appearances, recording six saves in 75.1 innings

2009

After spening the final two months of his 2008 season with Class A Savannah, returned to pitch the entire season with the club... served as the Sand Gnats closer, posting a 2-2 record with 22 saves (in 25 opps.) in 50 appearances...led all Mets minor leaguers and finished third in the South Atlantic League in saves

2008

Combined to go 2-2 with a 4.73 ERA (21ER/40IP) in 21 appearances for short-season Class A Brooklyn (6g) and low Class A Savannah (15g)...pitched one month with Brooklyn before his promotion to Savannah on July 6.

2007

Signed by the Mets on Feb. 15 and ended up playing at three different levels in 2007...combined to post a 3-2 record and a 1.41 ERA (5ER/32IP) at his three stops...began the year with the DSL Mets, making four appearances...promoted to the GCL Mets on June 24 and made four scoreless appearances (6IP) before being placed on the DL...activated and promoted to Kingsport on July 12...made 11 appearances to close out his season at Kinsport, allowing only one run in 12.2 innings pitched (0.71 ERA

2006

Began the year with Detroit, but was released by the club on June 16 before the short-season affiliates began play

2005

Repeated the year with the GCL Tigers and like in 2004 pitched exactly twice the amount of innings as appearances (28IP, 14g)

2004

Began his professional career as a 17-year-old for the Tigers Gulf Coast League affiliate...tossed 32.0 innings in his 16 relief appearances.