Juan Cruz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #2 prospect in 2002
  Desperate for a starter in late August, the Cubs summoned Cruz to the majors. He made an impression on manager Don Baylor with his performance and courage. Cruz' stuff is just as exciting as Mark Prior's. Cruz also throws 94-97 mph, with more life but less command than Prior. He also has the best breaking ball (a darting slider) and changeup in the organization. He has been so overpowering since putting it all together in early 2000, the Cubs say they weren't surprised he was able to get the job done in the majors at age 20. Cruz just needs to put finishing touches on his command and pitching savvy. Lefties got to him in the majors, so he'll have to make some adjustments. Some opposing Southern League managers thought he was immature, but Chicago officials don't see that. Cruz will have a rotation spot awaiting him in spring training. He, Prior and Kerry Wood could form a nasty front three as early as 2003. In January, it came out that Cruz is two years older than his previously listed age, making him 23. That makes him less precocious but doesn't diminish the Cubs' enthusiasm about his special arm.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #2 prospect in 2001
  Cruz made the biggest breakthrough in baseball last season. He entered 2000 with a 7-10, 5.99 career record and went 0-5, 9.99 in his first six starts. Then everything clicked, and he went 8-0, 1.86 with 134 strikeouts in 116 innings the rest of the way. Cruz ranked as the No. 2 prospect in both the Midwest and Florida State leagues. He has the best stuff in the organization. He throws a lively 94-97 mph fastball, and wasn't clocked under 94 mph when he threw a 14-strikeout gem in the FSL playoffs. He also has a power slider and a changeup that serves as a good third pitch. He relishes pitching inside, making it difficult to dig in against him. Cruz improved his command as his career took off last year, and it still could get better. Other than that, he just needs a little more experience. It's trendy to compare wispy, hard-throwing Dominicans to Pedro Martinez these days, but Cruz makes a better case than most. He'll prove whether he's for real when he moves up to Double-A in 2001, and the Cubs certainly believe he is. If he progresses like he did a year ago, he could reach Chicago by the end of the season.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #7 prospect in 2001
  Unknown at the beginning of 2000, Cruz was a key member of the Cubs rotation during their pennant drive this August. He went 2-1, 2.57 in his first five starts. Some managers admitted they were surprised Cruz was having success in the majors this early in his career, because they thought he was immature. But every skipper loved his arm and said he had as high a ceiling as anyone in the league. They raved about his savvy when he was focused. They also liked his deceptive delivery, his hard slider and his moving fastball that averaged 93-96 mph. "He's a young kid who got better and better as the season progressed," Bialas said. "He's got a live fastball with great movement. He gets a lot of sinking action with his two-seam fastball to go with his four-seamer. He has a good changeup, and he gained better command of all his pitches throughout the season."
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #2 prospect in 2000
  He wasn't around very long, but no pitcher made a stronger impression than Cruz in the final third of the season, including the playoffs. He came up after making 17 starts in the Class A Midwest League, and like any wiry Dominican pitcher with great stuff, he evoked the name of Pedro Martinez. Though he's just 19, Cruz overpowered older hitters and kept them on their heels. He has a low three-quarters delivery and can reach 97 mph with his fastball. He has two breaking pitches and a good changeup. Managers said he's the kind of pitcher an organization builds around. "He really shoved it up our tailpipe in the playoffs," St. Lucie manager Dave Engle said. "I'm talking about my 3-4-5 hitters, they're just walking back to the dugout. He's just buckling guys on the slider. They couldn't get a swing off against him."
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #2 prospect in 2000
  There was every reason to expect Beckett to top this list when the season began. There was none to expect Cruz to be right behind him. Cruz had been hit hard in two years of short-season ball, and he didn’t get past the fifth inning in his first six MWL starts, posting a 9.99 ERA through mid-May. Then it came together for him. Suddenly Cruz had command of three above-average pitches, a fastball, slider and changeup. Pedro Martinez comparisons became common, not just because Cruz is a skinny Dominican with a live arm and command, but also because he works inside with a vengeance. "He’s a lot like Pedro," Dayton manager Fred Benavides said. "He struggled early, but look at his last few starts. He was throwing 96-97 and his ball really moves. Plus he has a nasty, hard slider." In his final 11 starts for Lansing, Cruz went 5-0, 1.00 with 80 strikeouts in 72 innings and a .187 opponent batting average He continued to thrive after moving to the high Class A Florida State League, where he was named the No. 2 prospect and pitched Daytona to the championship.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #6 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #17 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  There was every reason to expect Beckett to top this list when the season began. There was none to expect Cruz to be right behind him. Cruz had been hit hard in two years of short-season ball, and he didn’t get past the fifth inning in his first six MWL starts, posting a 9.99 ERA through mid-May. Then it came together for him. Suddenly Cruz had command of three above-average pitches, a fastball, slider and changeup. Pedro Martinez comparisons became common, not just because Cruz is a skinny Dominican with a live arm and command, but also because he works inside with a vengeance. "He’s a lot like Pedro," Dayton manager Fred Benavides said. "He struggled early, but look at his last few starts. He was throwing 96-97 and his ball really moves. Plus he has a nasty, hard slider." In his final 11 starts for Lansing, Cruz went 5-0, 1.00 with 80 strikeouts in 72 innings and a .187 opponent batting average He continued to thrive after moving to the high Class A Florida State League, where he was named the No. 2 prospect and pitched Daytona to the championship.
• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  He wasn't around very long, but no pitcher made a stronger impression than Cruz in the final third of the season, including the playoffs. He came up after making 17 starts in the Class A Midwest League, and like any wiry Dominican pitcher with great stuff, he evoked the name of Pedro Martinez. Though he's just 19, Cruz overpowered older hitters and kept them on their heels. He has a low three-quarters delivery and can reach 97 mph with his fastball. He has two breaking pitches and a good changeup. Managers said he's the kind of pitcher an organization builds around. "He really shoved it up our tailpipe in the playoffs," St. Lucie manager Dave Engle said. "I'm talking about my 3-4-5 hitters, they're just walking back to the dugout. He's just buckling guys on the slider. They couldn't get a swing off against him."