The New York Yankees promoted hard-throwing right-hander Yovanny Cruz from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday, bringing up a 26-year-old reliever who can reach over 100 mph with his fastball. To make room, the club optioned young starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez.
Cruz arrived after posting a 3.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 18 innings at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he joined the Yankees on a minor league deal during the offseason after electing free agency from the Boston Red Sox. The move came with the Yankees back home after a 2-7 finish on a nine-game road trip, a stretch that ended with David Bednar allowing a game-tying three-run home run to Tyrone Taylor with two outs in the ninth inning of a loss to the New York Mets.
The promotion fits a bullpen that has come under heavy scrutiny. Bednar, Jake Bird, who has a near 5.00 ERA, and Camilo Doval, who has struggled on the mound, have all been part of the concern as the Yankees look for answers. Cruz gives the club another power arm to try as it searches for steadier late-inning options.
He is also not the only velocity option in the system. Carlos Lagrange, the No. 4-ranked prospect in the organization, has been identified as another flamethrower in the Yankees' pipeline. For now, though, the immediate test belongs to Cruz, who has a chance to turn a strong run in Triple-A into a role on a major league staff that badly needs one.
