Francisco Cruceta
| IP | 26 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 7.962 |
| WHIP | 2.038 |
| BB/9 | 6.923 |
| SO/9 | 7.615 |
- Full name Francisco Alberto Cruceta
- Born 07/04/1981 in La Vega, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 09/21/2004
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Cruceta already spent time in four organizations when he signed a major league contract in November with the Tigers, who believe he's ready to reach his high ceiling. He possesses above-average stuff but has performed inconsistently throughout his career because of command problems. He tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance while in Triple-A with the Rangers in 2007, and the 50-game suspension didn't help his development. Cruceta throws a sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s and tops out at 94 mph. He has featured two secondary pitches since moving to the bullpen full-time, a sharp splitter that he usually throws out of the zone and a 12-to-6 curveball that should become at least an average pitch. Cruceta has a reputation for throwing hittable pitches up in the zone, but giving up two homers in 66 innings last year suggests that he has made adjustments. His arm slot wandered in the past and his command is still erratic at times. He appears to have little confidence in his slider and changeup and has removed those pitches from his repertoire. It would be useful to bring one of them back so he could break his pattern of two-strike splitters. Detroit signed Cruceta with the idea that he'd pitch for their big league club in 2008. He's out of minor league options, so he has to clear waivers before he could be farmed out. If he throws enough strikes, he could become a reliable middle reliever. -
The Mariners appeared to have found a steal when they claimed Cruceta off waivers from the Indians in August 2005, as he led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in wins and strikeouts last year. But Seattle placed him on waivers after 2006, and the Rangers eagerly snatched him up. Cruceta has swing-and-miss stuff with a sinking 89-92 mph fastball that tops out at 94, a splitter that can be above-average at times and a decent slider. His major flaw continues to be his command. He doesn't throw strikes consistently and finished second in the PCL in walks. He works high in the zone too often, and he topped the league in homers allowed. Cruceta needs to do a better job pitching with his fastball to get ahead in the count, and he needs to become less predictable in his pitch selection. The Rangers aren't sure if Cruceta fits best as a starter or reliever, but he'll likely get a shot to make the Opening Day roster as a swingman. -
When Cleveland got both Cruceta and righthander Ricardo Rodriguez from the Dodgers while dumping Paul Shuey's contract in July 2002, it looked like a coup. But neither panned out with the Indians, who placed Cruceta on waivers last August. Short on quality arms, the Mariners claimed him. Cruceta has an 89-92 mph sinker that maxes out at 94. He added a splitter in 2004 and it quickly became his No. 2 pitch, ahead of his slider and rudimentary changeup. Cruceta still is learning to pitch, however. He throws strikes but his location isn't consistent. He tends to work high in the zone, leaving him vulnerable when he makes mistakes. Primarily a starter for most of his career, he worked as a swingman last year. Seattle will decide his role in spring training, and he'll begin the season in Triple-A. The Mariners took him off their 40-man roster, but he found no takers in the major league Rule 5 draft. -
Indians officials have regarded the Dodgers as one of baseball's deepest organizations in recent years, and they've done a good job of raiding that system in trades. Not only did Cleveland get Top 10 Prospects Franklin Gutierrez and Andy Brown for Milton Bradley last spring, but they also picked up a pair of quality arms when their primarily goal was just to dump Paul Shuey's contract in July 2002. In exchange, the Indians received Cruceta and Ricardo Rodriguez (since traded for Ryan Ludwick), along with veteran Terry Mulholland. Cruceta has proven to be one of the most durable starters in the system. He works with an 89-92 mph sinker that reaches 94, as well as a solid slider, splitter and changeup. His fastball has good life with late run and sink. When he added the splitter in 2004, it immediately became a go-to pitch and boosted the rest of his repertoire. While he has good command of all four pitches, Cruceta's tendency to pitch up in the strike zone gets him into trouble. Scouts differ in their opinions of his future role, with some seeing him as a setup man and others projecting him as a No. 4 starter. After getting a brief look in the big leagues last season, he'll have an opportunity to make a better second impression in spring training. -
Cruceta was more of an unknown than Ricardo Rodriguez when they were acquired from the Dodgers for Paul Shuey in July 2002, though he had started to emerge in the spring of 2002 with a strong spring training performance and a no-hitter in April for low Class A South Georgia. Rodriguez since has been traded for Ryan Ludwick, while Cruceta has a bright future with the Indians. He led Eastern League pitchers in strikeouts and complete games last year, while finishing second in wins, third in innings and fourth in ERA. Cruceta relies on a 92-93 mph sinker, a solid-average to plus slider and a changeup. He struggles at times with the command of his fastball, particularly early in games. He needs to trust his stuff more and throw strikes more frequently. His ability to do so will determine whether his future role will be as a starter or reliever. He'll begin 2004 in the Triple-A rotation. -
Acquired from the Dodgers in the midseason trade for Paul Shuey, Cruceta was something of an unknown quantity coming into 2002. That began to change when he pitched well in spring training, and he gained further notoriety when he tossed a no-hitter in April. He turned in a strong performance after changing organizations and was quite impressive in instructional league, where he had 20 strikeouts and no walks in 15 innings. Cruceta's fastball sits at 92-94 mph. He also throws a solid average major league changeup, and two types of breaking balls, a slider, and a hard-breaking curve. Cruceta commands his breaking stuff better than his fastball. He's not wild, but he tends to elevate his fastball. He also needs to find a consistent arm slot for both his breaking pitches. He tends to vary the angle depending on whether he's throwing a slider or curve, and that's something quality major league hitters will pick up on. Cruceta is projected as a starter, but with his stuff and durability he also might fit in the bullpen. He'll start the 2003 season in the Double-A rotation.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Since coming over from the Dodgers as a relative unknown in the Paul Shuey deal in July 2002, Cruceta has blossomed in the Indians system. He'll compete for a spot in Cleveland's 2005 rotation after giving up three earned runs or less in 12 of his 14 Triple-A starts. Cruceta's natural sinker sits in the 92-94 mph range, and he generates that plus velocity with a nice, easy delivery. His slider has become an above-average pitch this season, and his changeup has shown flashes of becoming a third quality offering. He struggles at times with the command of his fastball, particularly early in games as he tries to establish his other pitches. He sometimes leaves it up in the strike zone, where it loses movement and is more hittable. He also needs to trust his stuff more. -
While Cabrera moved to the bullpen, Cruceta remained in the Akron rotation all season. Yet he may be more likely to have a future as a big league reliever. "I think out of the two of them, Cruceta will end up being the reliever," one scout said. "He doesn't have Cabrera's command. Even when he throws strikes, he's not putting it exactly where he wants it to be." Cruceta has a 90-91 mph fastball that seems quicker because his herky-jerky delivery hides the ball well. He also throws a good changeup and a decent breaking ball. -
Several observers said the Indians pulled a coup when they acquired Cruceta from the Dodgers in a trade for Paul Shuey in July. He dominated, tossing a seven-inning no-hitter against Delmarva in the first game of a doubleheader on April 29 as part of a 21-inning scoreless streak. Attracting comparisons to Ricardo Rodriguez, who joined him in the Shuey deal and was ranked as Los Angeles' top prospect last offseason, Cruceta showed a 91-93 mph fastball along with a tight curveball and a solid changeup. He has good fastball command and an easy arm action that allows the ball to get on top of hitters quickly. The lone criticism centered on Cruceta's immaturity, which some managers believed played a role in the Dodgers' decision to trade him.
