Superboy Fernando Cruz Is Cruising!

Who is happy with Fernando Cruz? I know I am.

I absolutely love these kinds of stories—ones where a change of scenery and a chance to shine unlock something special. That’s exactly what’s happening with Fernando Cruz.

When the Yankees struck a deal with the Cincinnati Reds on December 20, 2024, sending Jose Trevino to Cincinnati in exchange for Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson, most fans saw it as a minor move. Now? It looks like a sneaky stroke of genius. Trevino’s doing just fine over in Cincy, but let’s give the spotlight to Cruz, who’s quietly turning into one of the most electric arms in the Yankees bullpen.

The secret sauce? A splitter so nasty it should probably be illegal. Cruz came into the Bronx already flashing a strong version of the pitch, but under the careful guidance of pitching coach Matt Blake, that thing has become an absolute weapon. The Yankees have all but scrapped his cutter and dialed back his fastball in favor of the pitch that’s putting hitters in the blender. His splitter usage has jumped from 41.9% last season to a staggering 54.7% in 2025. And the results? Filthy.

Fernando Cruz, Disappearing 82mph Splitter. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/ZfS10VcglD

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 19, 2025

Even Empire Sports Media couldn’t help but gush over the numbers, highlighting Cruz’s absurd stats against hitters who dare swing at the splitter: a microscopic .053 batting average and a .105 slugging percentage. The whiff rate? 65.7%. The put-away rate? 50%. Translation: hitters aren’t just missing—they’re flailing like they’ve never seen a baseball before. As ESM cleverly put it, “It’s like having a Ferrari parked in your garage—why not drive it every chance you get?”

Cruz isn’t just passing the nerd test either. Sure, he’s in the 99th percentile in both whiff rate and strikeout rate, fanning 42.1% of batters he faces. But the eye test tells the same story: this guy can chuck. The ERA sits at 2.79, and he looks every bit like a late-inning weapon. Every outing feels like a revelation—he’s confident, nasty, and clearly pitching with something to prove.

Asked about his splitter, Cruz didn’t get into spin rates or mechanics. He simply said, “That’s my gift from God.” And honestly? Watch him throw it and you might believe him.

The Yankees clearly do. They’ve committed to maximizing what makes Cruz special, and it’s paying off in a big way. For a guy who came over in a relatively quiet trade, he’s making a whole lot of noise in pinstripes. These are the stories that make baseball so damn fun. A guy gets a shot, grabs it with both hands, and runs with it.

Tip your cap—Fernando Cruz is no longer just a nice story. He’s a weapon. And in my book, he’s a keeper.