Scouting Report
Updated May 20, 2026
Yovanny Cruz, a 26-year-old Dominican right-handed reliever, was promoted to the New York Yankees' major league roster on May 18, 2026, from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The promotion came as the Yankees sought to reinforce a depleted bullpen that had been overworked during a difficult stretch. At Triple-A, Cruz posted a 1.72 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 15.2 innings (later reported as 3.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 18 innings). He features elite velocity with a four-seam fastball averaging 99.2 mph and touching over 100 mph, paired with a high-80s slider. Cruz has had a winding path through professional baseball, originally signed by the Cubs in 2016, then moving through the Padres and Red Sox systems before joining the Yankees organization.
Strengths
- + Elite fastball velocity (99.2 mph average, 101.5 mph peak)
- + Strong Triple-A performance with low ERA
- + High strikeout rate at Triple-A
- + Fresh arm to address bullpen depth issues
- + Promoted to MLB roster, indicating organizational confidence
- + Improved command after previous struggles
Weaknesses
- - Limited MLB experience (first call-up)
- - History of command issues earlier in career (60 walks in 89 innings in 2024-2025)
- - Bounced between multiple organizations (Cubs, Padres, Red Sox, Yankees)
- - Stagnated in development after COVID-19 pandemic
- - Relatively simple pitch repertoire (fastball and slider make up 90% of pitches)
- - Bullpen role carries inherent pressure and volatility
About
Yovanny Cruz is a sp for the New York Yankees.
Player Overview
SP
New York Yankees