Rhiner Cruz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #28 prospect in 2012
  Originally signed by the Tigers in 2003, Cruz was released three years later before signing with the Mets and resuscitating his career. He reached Double-A in 2011 before pitching with Cibao in the Dominican League, where Rick Aponte is the pitching coach. Aponte holds the same job at Rookie-level Greeneville in the Astros system and provided positive reports on Cruz to Houston's front office, and the club's scouts seconded his enthusiasm. The Astros made Cruz the No. 1 overall pick in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft in December. Some scouts saw Cruz hit 100 mph during the winter, and the Astros have reports of a consistent high-90s fastball. His sweepy slider sits in the low 80s and improved with Aponte's coaching this winter. Cruz, who pitched for Spain in the 2009 World Cup, has pitched just 59 innings above Class A and has averaged 5.5 walks per nine innings in his career. The Astros have to keep him on their major league roster throughout 2012, or else put him on waivers and offer him back to New York. He factors into the 2012 Houston bullpen.