Omar Cruz
P | Bats/Throws: L/L | 6' 0" 210LBS | Age: 25
MLB Pipeline Rank
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 1 2 4.42 14 5 0 38.2 48 1.45
Career Minors 19 20 3.60 128 56 2 394.2 464 1.28
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 14 1-2 4.42 38.2 48 1.45
Career Minors 128 19-20 3.60 394.2 464 1.28

Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2018 2 Teams Minors 1 1 1.91 11 10 0 42.1 34 13 9 0 22 59 1.32
2018 AZL Padres 1 AZL ROK 0 1 1.80 5 5 0 20.0 18 8 4 0 6 30 1.20
2018 Tri-City Dust Devils NWL A(Short) 1 0 2.01 6 5 0 22.1 16 5 5 0 16 29 1.43
2019 2 Teams Minors 2 3 2.73 12 12 0 56.0 46 21 17 1 19 76 1.16
2019 Tri-City Dust Devils NWL A(Short) 0 1 2.57 2 2 0 7.0 4 3 2 0 6 14 1.43
2019 Fort Wayne TinCaps MID A(Full) 2 2 2.76 10 10 0 49.0 42 18 15 1 13 62 1.12
2021 2 Teams Minors 6 7 3.44 21 21 0 99.1 87 45 38 10 36 98 1.24
2021 Greensboro Grasshoppers A+ E A+ 3 3 3.45 7 7 0 28.2 17 13 11 4 14 38 1.08
2021 Altoona Curve AA NE AA 3 4 3.44 14 14 0 70.2 70 32 27 6 22 60 1.30
2022 Altoona Curve EAS AA 3 3 5.03 23 5 0 62.2 61 36 35 9 28 69 1.42
2023 Altoona Curve EAS AA 1 4 3.94 27 1 0 48.0 39 21 21 2 30 44 1.44
2024 2 Teams Minors 6 2 3.96 34 7 2 86.1 69 40 38 4 36 118 1.22
2024 San Antonio Missions TEX AA 5 0 3.59 20 2 2 47.2 36 20 19 3 13 70 1.03
2024 El Paso Chihuahuas PCL AAA 1 2 4.42 14 5 0 38.2 33 20 19 1 23 48 1.45

Scouting Report

2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Originally signed by the Padres as an 18-year-old out of Mexico in July 2017, Cruz reached Single-A as a starter in 2019 and dominated there just in time for the pandemic to cancel the following season. He was moved to the Pirates in January 2021 as part of the Joe Musgrove deal, became a Double-A reliever in 2022 and then rejoined the San Diego system as a Minor League Rule 5 pick last December. He’s since reached Triple-A for the first time after posting a 3.59 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings for Double-A San Antonio out of the gate in 2024.

Standing at 6-foot, Cruz looks like he throws everything easily on the bump, perhaps too easily when it comes to his 91-94 mph fastball. The velocity won’t wow many, but there’s some decent carry up in the zone that’s helped Cruz buzz heaters past batters. Perhaps the best thing about his four-seamer is how it sets up his 78-84 mph changeup. With good tunneling and separation, the pitch hits the brakes, as Double-A and Triple-A batters have whiffed on 50 percent of their swings against Cruz’s changeup in 2024. He’ll also show a pair of breaking balls in the mid 70s but can’t command them as well as the other two offerings.

Because of his natural movement on the mound, Cruz doesn’t overthrow and can keep walks in check. He’s only moved to the bullpen out of roster necessity, but the Padres have increased his workload as the season’s worn on. He’s on the older side of prospectdom at 25, but the southpaw has given himself a real chance at seeing The Show on the strength of the changeup.


2021

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Cruz was one of six players given $100,000 bonuses by the Padres to sign out of Mexico at the start of the 2017-18 international signing period and made a very strong first impression. The left-hander reached full-season ball as a 20-year-old in 2019, showing a feel for pitching well beyond his years. After faring well for San Diego in instructional league play, he was sent to the Pirates as part of the return for Joe Musgrove.

The quintessential lefty with pitchability, Cruz commands all three of his pitches very well. He can move his low-90s fastball in and out, showing no fear in going right after hitters and throwing inside. He really knows how to spin a breaking ball, an overhand curve with top-to-bottom shape, and he has good feel for his average changeup, thrown with good deception thanks to arm speed.

There might not be a ton of ceiling with Cruz, though he will be just 22 for all of the 2021 season and some more velocity could change his profile a bit. Even if he stays as is, with his feel for pitching and strong and durable frame, he has the chance to pitch in the back of a big league rotation.


2020

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40

The recipient of a $100,000 bonus when the Padres signed him out of Mexico as an 18-year-old in July 2017, Cruz has proved advanced beyond his years early in his pro career and received his first taste of full-season ball at age 20 in 2019. After beginning the season with two strong starts at Class A Short Season Tri-City, Cruz was promoted to the Midwest League and posted a 2.76 ERA over 10 starts, striking out 62 batters in 49 innings. He’ll continue his career with the Pirates, who acquired him as part of the haul they received for Joe Musgrove in January.

Though nothing Cruz throws is particularly overpowering or viewed by scouts as a plus pitch, the young left-hander has an excellent feel for his craft and floods the zone with all three pitches. He spots his low-90s fastball well to both sides of the plate and isn’t afraid to attack right-handed hitters inside. Both his curveball and changeup project to be at least average Major League pitches once fully developed. Scouts tend to prefer Cruz’s breaking ball, which he consistently throws with a big, top-to-bottom shape, to his changeup, though he does sell the latter well with fastball-like arm speed. 

With a strong build for a hurler his age and present feel for mixing and locating three distinct offerings, Cruz has the makings of a future back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues. An uptick in velocity could help him surpass that projection, and there’s bullpen potential in the profile if he’s unable to carve out a starting role.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
09/18/2024 El Paso Chihuahuas activated LHP Omar Cruz from the 7-day injured list.
09/12/2024 El Paso Chihuahuas activated LHP Omar Cruz.
07/25/2024 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions.
07/23/2024 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to San Antonio Missions from El Paso Chihuahuas.
07/13/2024 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to El Paso Chihuahuas from San Antonio Missions.
07/13/2024 El Paso Chihuahuas activated LHP Omar Cruz.
04/02/2024 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to San Antonio Missions.
02/01/2024 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Mexico.
12/30/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Omar Cruz from the reserve list.
12/26/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
12/20/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
12/17/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Omar Cruz from the reserve list.
12/16/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
12/06/2023 El Paso Chihuahuas drafted LHP Omar Cruz.
12/06/2023 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to San Diego Padres.
11/12/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Omar Cruz from the reserve list.
11/11/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
11/08/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Omar Cruz from the reserve list.
11/07/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
11/03/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Omar Cruz from the reserve list.
10/31/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
10/29/2023 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Naranjeros de Hermosillo.
10/25/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
10/24/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo activated LHP Omar Cruz from the reserve list.
10/19/2023 Naranjeros de Hermosillo placed LHP Omar Cruz on the reserve list.
10/18/2023 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Naranjeros de Hermosillo.
05/27/2023 Altoona Curve activated LHP Omar Cruz.
04/06/2023 Altoona Curve transferred LHP Omar Cruz to the Development List.
03/26/2023 LHP Omar Cruz and assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
09/16/2022 Surprise Saguaros activated LHP Omar Cruz.
09/16/2022 Surprise Saguaros activated LHP Omar Cruz.
08/27/2022 Altoona Curve activated LHP Omar Cruz from the 7-day injured list.
06/30/2022 Altoona Curve placed LHP Omar Cruz on the 7-day injured list.
03/26/2022 LHP Omar Cruz and assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
06/23/2021 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers.
05/01/2021 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Bradenton Marauders.
01/19/2021 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Bradenton Marauders.
01/19/2021 Pittsburgh Pirates Traded RHP Joe Musgrove to San Diego Padres; New York Mets Traded C Endy Rodriguez to Pittsburgh Pirates; San Diego Padres Traded LHP Joey Lucchesi to New York Mets and San Diego Padres Traded RHP David Bednar, CF Hudson Head, RHP Drake Fellows and LHP Omar Cruz to Pittsburgh Pirates.
09/27/2019 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to San Diego Padres Futures.
09/27/2019 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to San Diego Padres Futures.
08/07/2019 Fort Wayne TinCaps activated LHP Omar Cruz from the 7-day injured list.
07/30/2019 Fort Wayne TinCaps placed LHP Omar Cruz on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 27, 2019.
06/28/2019 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Tri-City Dust Devils.
09/26/2018 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to San Diego Padres Futures.
09/26/2018 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to San Diego Padres Futures.
07/16/2018 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Tri-City Dust Devils from AZL Padres 1.
06/18/2018 LHP Omar Cruz assigned to AZL Padres 1.
07/03/2017 San Diego Padres signed free agent LHP Omar Cruz to a minor league contract.