| Steven Cruz | |
| Team: | Kansas City Royals |
| Number: | 64 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 15 June 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Tenares, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | August 29 |
| Debutyear: | 2023 |
| Debutteam: | Kansas City Royals |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 4.97 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 15 |
| Teams: |
|
Steven Adalberto Cruz (born June 15, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).
On March 20, 2017, Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.[1] He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Twins, posting a 3.68 ERA in 16 games. The following year, he played for the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Twins, recording a 3.12 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 26.0 innings pitched across 13 appearances.[2] Cruz spent a third straight year in the rookie–league in 2019, playing in 17 games for the Elizabethton Twins and logging a 2.90 ERA with 48 strikeouts.[3]
Cruz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] He returned to action in 2021, playing for the Single–A Fort Myers Miracle and High–A Cedar Rapids Kernels. In 28 combined contests, Cruz pitched to a 4–2 record and 4.32 ERA with 80 strikeouts across 50.0 innings pitched.[5] In 2022, he pitched in 48 games out of the bullpen for the Double–A Wichita Wind Surge, registering a 5.14 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 56.0 innings of work.[6]
On January 24, 2023, the Minnesota Twins traded Cruz and Evan Sisk to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Michael A. Taylor.[7] In 43 appearances split between the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, he worked to a cumulative 3.81 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 9 saves across innings of work.[8] On August 29, Cruz was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[9] In 10 appearances for Kansas City in his rookie campaign, he posted a 4.97 ERA with 15 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Cruz was optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season.[10]