The New York Yankees’ success so far in 2025 has been a group effort, with some well-known superstars being given the lion’s share of the credit. And players like Aaron Judge and Max Fried deserve their just praise, as both are the respective frontrunners for the American League MVP and Cy Young awards.
That being said, there are plenty of unsung heroes on this roster, and Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly just named who he believes is the Yankees’ best-kept secret. That player is Fernando Cruz, who has had a long road to the majors. Kelly gives a simple breakdown on why the veteran reliever deserves this title.
“Fernando Cruz is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation, but he had a 2.66 ERA in 21 games before being sidelined,” Kelly states. “Acquired in the trade that sent Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason, Cruz has a 13.3 K/9 across 23.2 innings pitched in his first season with the Yankees.”
To give more of a breakdown of Cruz’s backstory, the 35-year-old was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Except, during this time, the Bayamón, Puerto Rico native was drafted as an infielder. Cruz eventually transitioned to pitcher in 2011, worked his way up through the minors for over a decade, and played on over a dozen different teams.
In 2022, the then-32-year-old made his first 40-man roster on the Cincinnati Reds, spending three years with this franchise’s first team. Cruz, however, is to be breaking out in the Bronx, and it’s phenomenal to see him succeed with the league’s most storied franchise.
The Yankees’ bullpen is in the top half of the league in ERA, but could use some improvements once they get closer to October. Should Cruz continue this form, there is a very high chance he will get his first taste of playoff baseball, and what a journey it’s been to reach this point.
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