One of the most beautiful parts of baseball is how many different personal journeys we fans get to learn about as players chase their dreams. Fernando Cruz’s story aside, let’s dive into the season that earned him a B- from the staff here at Pinstripe Alley.
Cruz’s 2026 really started at the World Baseball Classic, representing Team Puerto Rico. After rejoining the Yankees, he picked up where he left off last season as a trusted member of Aaron Boone’s bullpen. From there, it became a story of two
halves.
Grade: B-
2026 Stats: 61 games, 54.2 IP, 3.13 ERA (135 ERA+), 4.17 FIP, 4.39 xFIP, 28.6 K%, 13.7 BB%, 0.0 fWAR, 1.2 rWAR, 4-6 record
2027 Contract Status: Arbitration-eligible
Before the All-Star break, Cruz was excellent. He was a borderline All-Star, striking out 50 batters over 40 innings while holding opponents to a .191 batting average. His best month of the season was May, when he appeared in 14 games and posted a 1.02 WHIP while allowing just two earned runs over 13.2 innings. He was one of the more dependable pieces out of the bullpen during the first half of what was an underrated unit.
The key to this effectiveness was his splitter, which he deployed 51.3 percent of the time. He paired that pitch with a four-seamer, sweeper, and sinker to keep hitters off-balance. The splitter continued to be his best weapon, generating a 52 percent whiff rate and limiting hitters to a .161 average against it.
After the break, however, his performance began to slip. Something seemed off as Cruz started losing some control in late July, and August became his roughest month of the season. He posted a 6.75 ERA over eight innings, allowing six home runs and four walks. Following a blown save against Houston on August 25th, the Yankees announced that Cruz had suffered a partial tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament, and he landed on the injured list the following day.
The ultimate team guy, Cruz opted to pursue a non-surgical approach after receiving a second opinion with the hope he could make it back in 2026. He received a cortisone shot and started rehabbing trying to find his way back into the mix for the postseason. However, a month after landing on the injured list, the Yankees transferred Cruz to the 60-day injured list on September 25th, ending his chances of returning during the 2026 season.
On the season, Cruz had some impressive underlying numbers. He ranked in the 91st percentile in average exit velocity and the 99th percentile in whiff rate. He also landed in the 82nd percentile in xERA, the 88th percentile in strikeout rate, and the 85th percentile in extension. However, his hard-hit rate ranked in just the 22nd percentile, and his walk rate was in the third percentile. The right-hander was also effective against left-handed hitters holding them to a .180 batting average.
Losing Cruz after the Trade Deadline was less than ideal, especially with the Yankees having few options capable of replacing his production internally, which led to the Michael Fulmer experience. As the page turns to a new season, with the injury question mark hovering over him, Cruz becomes an interesting offseason decision for the Yankees.
The team has until November 20th to tender him a contract for the 2027 season. Depending on the outlook for his elbow, it would not surprise me to see the Yankees retain him and try to work out a deal before arbitration. Given the injury uncertainty, it could be a buy-low opportunity for the club, provided they believe he can return to form and he is willing to accept a similar salary to last season. However, professional baseball is a business and the team might opt to use the money and roster spot they would spend on Cruz elsewhere this offseason.
Personally, I gave Cruz a B for this season, and in hindsight, I feel that might have been a touch low. What grade would you assign Cruz, and what are your thoughts on him in pinstripes in 2027?
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
