Cuban lefty Naykel Cruz has officially signed with the Baltimore Orioles, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reported Tuesday.
Cuban LHP Naikel Cruz officially signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
Cruz, 26, pitched for Cuba in the 2023 WBC and took part in two U-23 World Cups with the national team.
He throws a 91–94 mph fastball, with a curveball and sinker that show above-average spin rate. pic.twitter.com/kilBI4HeGe
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) June 3, 2025
Cruz, 26, played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and the 2021 and 2022 U-23 Baseball World Cups for Cuba, as well as playing four seasons in the Serie Nacional with Matanzas, a season in the Cuban Elite League with Centrales, and part of a season in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol with the Piratas de Campeche.
According to BeisbolFR.com, Cruz left Cuba for the Dominican Republic in February 2024, seeking free agency and a contract with a Major League Baseball organization.
Standing six feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, Cruz last pitched during the 2023-24 Serie Nacional season with Matanzas, where, as a 23-year-old, he went 7-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 16 starts, throwing 83 1/3 innings with 73 strikeouts and 58 walks in what was by far his best season on the island. In total, he threw 241 1/3 innings in the Serie Nacional, all with Matanzas, striking out 255 and walking 166 with a career ERA of 4.18.
At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Cruz made one appearance, throwing 2/3 of an inning, allowing one run on one hit.
Romero reported that the Orioles will likely start Cruz’s journey to the Major Leagues with either the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds or the Double-A Chesapeake BaySox.
