Cuban left-hander Naykel Cruz goes to carry a showcase for golf equipment subsequent week within the Dominican Republic, experiences Francys Romero of BeisbolFR. Final week, Romero relayed on X that the lefty was anticipated to signal as an expert reasonably than an novice and had curiosity from six MLB golf equipment.
Throughout his time within the Cuban Nationwide Collection, Cruz tossed 241 1/3 innings, permitting 4.18 earned runs per 9. He struck out 205 of the 1,074 batters he confronted, a charge of 19.1%. He additionally gave out walks 15.5% of the time. In his most up-to-date season, he was pretty comparable with a 19.8% strikeout charge and 15.8% stroll charge. He made Cuba’s roster for the 2023 World Baseball Traditional, although made only one look which lasted two thirds of an inning.
Whereas the stats won’t soar out, Romero relays that Cruz was throwing 90-92 miles per hour throughout his time in Cuba however has been capable of enhance that to the 94-95 mph vary extra not too long ago. He additionally throws a curveball, sinker and changeup.
Per MLB guidelines, gamers coming from overseas leagues reminiscent of these in Japan, Korea or Cuba are thought of “amateurs” till they’re each 25 years previous and have performed six skilled seasons. In response to his Baseball Reference web page, Cruz turned 25 in September and began enjoying within the Cuban Nationwide Collection in 2019.
The excellence can usually be vital for a participant’s incomes energy, seen most starkly with gamers coming over from Japan. Yoshinobu Yamamoto waited till he was thought of an expert to come back to MLB and was capable of safe himself a $325MM assure. Then again, Shohei Ohtani came to visit when he was nonetheless thought of an novice and was due to this fact topic to the hard-capped limits of the worldwide signing system, securing a $2.315MM bonus when he signed with the Angels.
Final yr, fellow Cuban Yariel Rodríguez was declared a free agent and was capable of safe a $32MM assure from the Blue Jays forward of his age-27 season. Nevertheless, Rodríguez was coming off a powerful run of play in Japan whereby he tossed 175 1/3 innings over three seasons with a 3.03 ERA, 25.4% strikeout charge and 10.4% stroll charge. He dropped his ERA to 1.15 in his remaining season enjoying in Nippon Skilled Baseball, placing out 27.5% of batters confronted and limiting walks to an 8.3% clip.
It’s unclear if Cruz will truly be thought of an expert as he solely performed in 4 CNS campaigns. He additionally performed within the Cuban Elite League, a winter ball league, the Mexican League and the WBC. It was reported by Cuba’s Radio 26 in February that Cruz would play for the Kitchener Panthers of Canada’s Intercounty Baseball League however he’s not listed on the Panthers’ stat web page and Romero says that Cruz arrived within the Dominican Republic in April with the purpose of signing with an MLB membership.
His standing could also be one thing of a moot level as he gained’t have the sort of incomes energy to get a large deal. He’s in all probability seen as extra of a long-term venture than an thrilling completed product, as his instruments are extra attention-grabbing than his monitor file.
There have been lower than 50 lefties who threw not less than 250 pitches in 2024 and averaged over 94 mph on their fastballs, per Statcast, in order that sort of arsenal might be engaging to golf equipment. That might be sufficient to get him a shot someplace, making him an intriguing under-the-radar identify to look at within the coming months.
