Pittsburgh Pirates: Revisiting the Joe Musgrove Trade
By Marty Leap
Left-handed pitcher Omar Cruz
Cruz started the season with High-A Greensboro and made 7 starts. Following these 7 starts the lefty was promoted to Double-A Altoona where he made 14 more starts before his season came to an end.
Cruz posted a 3.45 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 1.26 HR/9, 11.9% walk rate and a 32.2% strikeout rate with the Grasshoppers. After being promoted to the Curve, Cruz posted a 3.444 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 0.76 HR/9, 7.3% walk rate and strikeout rate of 19.9%.
Outside of strikeout rate, all of Cruz’s numbers improved after being promoted the Double-A level. That said, any pitcher or team will sacrifice strikeout rate for a lower walk rate, home run rate, ERA and FIP following a promotion.
Neither starting the 2022 season back with Altoona nor starting the season with Triple-A Indianapolis would come as a surprise for Cruz. Either way a potential MLB debut, rather as a starter or a reliever, should not be ruled out for 2022.