Cruz signed with the Padres as an 18-year-old out of Mexico in July 2017, headed to the Pirates in the Joe Musgrove deal in January 2021 and returned to the San Diego organization as a Minor League Rule 5 pick in December 2023. He moved from a starting role to relief at Double-A in 2022 and stayed at that level for three straight seasons, finally making it to Triple-A last year. He finished with a 3.96 ERA and 118 strikeouts between San Antonio and El Paso in 2024. The Padres added him to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
The 6-foot southpaw’s standout pitch is easily his changeup. His fastball velocity is down to 90-92 mph in 2025, but he'll occasionally zip the four-seamer past hitters. What it might do best is set up the cambio. Cruz’s 79-82 mph change comes from almost the exact same release spot as the fastball and looks very much like the heater with similar armside run until it’s too late and batters are swinging through or over it. The pitch had a 48 percent whiff and 49 percent chase rate across both levels in 2024. Cruz will mix in a mid-70s curveball that can surprise batters with good spin, but it’s way behind the other two offerings in usage.
Cruz’s walk rate jumped from 6.6 percent at Double-A last season to 13.8 with the Major League ball in Triple-A. He especially doesn’t throw the breaker in the zone as much, but the left-hander doesn’t overthrow and can generally command pitches where they need to be for minimalized damage. He entered the 2025 season at 26 years old with a few looks out of the San Diego bullpen but has even made some starts with El Paso to add much-needed rotation depth.
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.
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.
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.
LHP Omar Cruz assigned to Naranjeros de Hermosillo.
11/21/2025
LHP Omar Cruz elected free agency.
10/03/2025
San Diego Padres activated LHP Omar Cruz.
09/30/2025
LHP Omar Cruz roster status changed by San Diego Padres.
09/29/2025
San Diego Padres recalled LHP Omar Cruz from El Paso Chihuahuas.
05/28/2025
San Diego Padres optioned LHP Omar Cruz to El Paso Chihuahuas.
05/28/2025
El Paso Chihuahuas activated LHP Omar Cruz.
05/28/2025
El Paso Chihuahuas activated LHP Omar Cruz.
05/25/2025
San Diego Padres recalled LHP Omar Cruz from El Paso Chihuahuas.
04/06/2025
San Diego Padres optioned LHP Omar Cruz to El Paso Chihuahuas.
03/27/2025
San Diego Padres recalled LHP Omar Cruz from El Paso Chihuahuas.
03/13/2025
San Diego Padres optioned LHP Omar Cruz to El Paso Chihuahuas.
11/19/2024
San Diego Padres selected the contract of LHP Omar Cruz from El Paso Chihuahuas.
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.
How this works:
This section shows two different ways to evaluate pitch movement.
On the left, “Total Movement” shows the real-world movement of a pitch, including the forces of gravity, which affects every pitch thrown.
Since gravity requires time, and slower pitches aren't 'better' just because they have more time to move, a pitch's movement is compared to other pitches of the same pitch type, within +/- 2 MPH and +/- 0.5 feet of extension/release.
On the right, Induced Movement (or IVB) is reported without gravity, and attempts to isolate movement created by the pitcher's ability to spin and manipulate the ball.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift:
three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of
their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about
how positioning is defined here
SD
