Steven Cruz

Active

Kansas City Royals · Pitcher

Age 276' 7" · 225 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

Cruz represents a mid-rotation arm for Kansas City with fluctuating form that presents both intrigue and caution for fantasy managers. His 2025 season showed promise with a solid 3.74 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 45.2 innings, but his early 2026 metrics have deteriorated significantly, posting a 5.68 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 25.1 innings—signaling potential durability or command concerns that warrant monitoring. Strikeout production remains serviceable at roughly 7.5 K/9, but his win total depends heavily on Kansas City's offensive support, making him more of a streaming option than a reliable weekly starter in most league formats. The gap between his 2025 and 2026 performances suggests he's worth monitoring closely before committing significant draft capital, with upside if he can stabilize his ERA back toward the 3.70s range.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2023	Kansas City Royals	10	4	0	0	0	4.97	1.74	15	12.2	11
2024	Kansas City Royals	5	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.18	4	5.2	0
2025	Kansas City Royals	47	0	3	1	0	3.74	1.18	38	45.2	18
2026	Kansas City Royals	52	2	2	3	6	4.12	1.26	58	54.2	20
Career	Totals	114	6	5	4	6	3.87	1.23	115	118.2	49

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2017	DSL Twins	16	3	4	0	1	3.68	1.36	26	29.1	14
2018	GCL Twins	13	2	1	3	2	3.12	1.46	33	26.0	24
2021	2 teams▼	28	2	4	2	1	4.32	1.36	80	50	33
2022	Wichita Wind Surge	46	0	1	4	4	5.14	1.59	72	56.0	35
2023	2 teams▼	43	0	0	1	9	3.81	1.25	64	49.2	30
2024	Omaha Storm Chasers	47	0	6	1	3	3.33	1.31	56	51.1	24
2025	Omaha Storm Chasers	7	0	0	1	1	2.45	1.09	10	7.1	2
2026	Omaha Storm Chasers	8	0	1	0	0	6.43	1.86	10	7.0	3
Career	Totals	208	7	17	12	21	4.03	1.39	351	276.2	165

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 MLB

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Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo98.4 mph

Avg Spin2180 rpm

Whiff %27.0%

K %25.3%

BB %8.7%

Hard Hit %36.5%

Barrel %10.1%

xERA4.09

xBA Against0.242

xSLG Against0.397

BA Against0.240

SLG Against0.446

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

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Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2023

Kansas City Royals

4.97

1.74

12.2

2024

Kansas City Royals

0.00

0.18

5.2

2025

Kansas City Royals

3.74

1.18

45.2

2026

Kansas City Royals

4.12

1.26

54.2

Career

Totals

114

3.87

1.23

115

118.2

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2017

DSL Twins

3.68

1.36

29.1

2018

GCL Twins

3.12

1.46

26.0

2021

2 teams▼

4.32

1.36

2022

Wichita Wind Surge

5.14

1.59

56.0

2023

2 teams▼

3.81

1.25

49.2

2024

Omaha Storm Chasers

3.33

1.31

51.1

2025

Omaha Storm Chasers

2.45

1.09

7.1

2026

Omaha Storm Chasers

6.43

1.86

7.0

Career

Totals

208

4.03

1.39

351

276.2

165