| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | 3.77 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28.2 | 29 | 1.26 |
| Career Minors | 11 | 11 | 2.60 | 48 | 44 | 0 | 183.1 | 195 | 1.22 |
| G | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 2-1 | 3.77 | 28.2 | 29 | 1.26 |
| Career Minors | 48 | 11-11 | 2.60 | 183.1 | 195 | 1.22 |
| Season | Tm | LG | L | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 Teams | Minors | 0 | 3 | 1.88 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 38.1 | 31 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 42 | 1.20 | |
| 2022 | FCL Red Sox | FCL | ROK | 0 | 3 | 1.95 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 32.1 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 36 | 1.24 |
| 2022 | Salem Red Sox | CAR | A | 0 | 0 | 1.50 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1.00 |
| 2023 | Salem Red Sox | CAR | A | 6 | 3 | 2.60 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 55.1 | 43 | 25 | 16 | 4 | 27 | 51 | 1.27 |
| 2024 | 2 Teams | Minors | 5 | 5 | 2.91 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 89.2 | 65 | 39 | 29 | 5 | 43 | 102 | 1.20 | |
| 2024 | Salem Red Sox | CAR | A | 3 | 4 | 2.51 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 61.0 | 47 | 26 | 17 | 1 | 25 | 73 | 1.18 |
| 2024 | Greenville Drive | SAL | A+ | 2 | 1 | 3.77 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28.2 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 29 | 1.26 |
| FCL Red Sox | FCL | ROK | 0 | 3 | 1.95 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 32.1 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 36 | 1.24 | |
| Greenville Drive | SAL | A+ | 2 | 1 | 3.77 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28.2 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 29 | 1.26 | |
| Salem Red Sox | CAR | A | 9 | 7 | 2.50 | 30 | 29 | 0 | 122.1 | 93 | 52 | 34 | 5 | 55 | 130 | 1.21 | |
| Career Minors | 3 Teams | 11 | 11 | 2.60 | 48 | 44 | 0 | 183.1 | 139 | 79 | 53 | 9 | 85 | 195 | 1.22 |
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
Rodriguez-Cruz was the lightest player (160 pounds) and third-youngest pitcher (17 years, 11 months) selected in the 2021 Draft, when the Red Sox took the Puerto Rican high schooler in the fourth round. They had him focus on adding strength early in his career, delaying his pro debut until June 2022 and monitoring his workload carefully afterward. He missed two months at the end of last season with elbow inflammation but his stuff has made a jump at the start of 2024.
After working at 91-95 mph with his fastball a year ago, Rodriguez-Cruz operated at 94-96 mph and topped out at 98 this April while featuring some armside run and carry on his heater. His slider has gained some velocity as well, sitting in the upper 80s with good depth and becoming his best secondary pitch. He also employs an upper-70s curveball that he locates well and has developed an upper-80s splitter that he uses as a change of pace.
Rodriguez-Cruz uses his 6-foot-3 frame to create plenty of extension in his delivery, which helps his pitches play up because they get on hitters quickly. He has a high leg kick and still is learning to keep his long limbs in sync, which should become easier as he continues to get stronger. If he can develop average control, he could be a mid-rotation starter.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40
The third-youngest pitcher to sign out of the 2021 Draft, Rodriguez-Cruz didn't turn 18 until a month after the Red Sox selected him in the fourth round. He was also the lightest player picked, carrying just 160 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame, so Boston has had him focus on adding strength early in his career. He didn't make his pro debut until June 2022 and didn't work more than four innings in 13 outings while compiling a 1.88 ERA between Rookie ball and Single-A.
Rodriguez-Cruz works at 92-94 mph and can touch 96 with his fastball, which should gain more velocity as he matures physically and features some armside run and carry. His upper-70s curveball shows good depth and is more effective than his fringy mid-80s slider/cutter. His low-80s changeup has some sink and could become an average offering as he uses it more often.
Despite his lack of present physicality, Rodriguez-Cruz keeps his long limbs in sync and repeats his mechanics well enough to provide consistent strikes. He gets good extension in his delivery, allowing his pitches to get on hitters quicker than expected. He made good progress in his first full year as a pro and could develop into a No. 4 starter if his stuff ticks up once he gains needed strength.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40
One of the younger and more projectable pitchers in the 2021 Draft, Rodriguez-Cruz didn't turn 18 until a month after the Red Sox made him a fourth-round pick out of a Puerto Rican academy. Because of his youth and the need to add strength to his frame, Boston waited until this summer to have him make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Rodriguez-Cruz has a four-pitch mix highlighted by a 92- to 94-mph fastball that peaks at 96 with some armside run and carry. His best secondary offering is an upper-70s curveball with good depth. He also has a mid-80s slider/cutter and a changeup with similar velocity, both of which have the potential to become average pitches.
Rodriguez-Cruz has a loose arm and does a nice job of keeping his long limbs in sync and throwing strikes. Adding strength to his skinny 6-foot-3 frame is a priority and he's still in the early stages of his career, but he has mid-rotation starter upside.
| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
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| Month | Team |
|---|---|
| 06/2024 |
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| Team | Date | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
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07/23/2024 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz assigned to Greenville Drive from Salem Red Sox. |
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07/23/2024 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz assigned to Greenville Drive from Salem Red Sox. |
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07/23/2024 | Greenville Drive activated RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. |
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09/01/2023 | Salem Red Sox activated RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz from the 7-day injured list. |
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07/22/2023 | Salem Red Sox placed RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 21, 2023. |
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08/30/2022 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz assigned to Salem Red Sox from FCL Red Sox. |
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08/30/2022 | Salem Red Sox activated RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. |
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06/03/2022 | FCL Red Sox activated RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. |
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06/03/2022 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz assigned to FCL Red Sox. |
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07/24/2021 | Boston Red Sox signed RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. |
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06/11/2021 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and assigned to College Workout. |
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05/20/2021 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz assigned to Trenton Thunder. |
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06/17/2020 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz assigned to PG National 8 - Orange. |
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06/17/2020 | RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz assigned to PG National 8 - Orange. |
