Cubs Prospect Profile: Ronny Cruz |
No one will argue that the Cubs have one of the most talented Minor League systems in baseball, but at some point, you need to put that talent to good use. As much as everyone would like all these players to hit and become a part of the Cubs' next great team, the reality is that rarely happens, if at all, as typically only a few of your good prospects actually make a difference.
However, there are cases where your farm system can make an even bigger impact on your MLB roster without playing a game, and that is what the Cubs are currently trying to figure out with many of their guys. As you know, the Cubs are looking for any way possible to improve their roster, whether it be through free agency or the trade market. Given how this team has continued to act financially, the trade market seems like the most likely option, as plenty of names are being discussed. That includes some of their upper-level prospects who are knocking on the door of the MLB. If the Cubs played their cards right, they could net several big stars. Should that happen, the organization will need other players to start making an impact, some of whom will come from the lower-level minor leagues. Ronny Cruz is one of those guys who is finally starting to get his feet wet. Should his name continue to pop up in trade conversations, he could be viewed as a significant building block for not only the Cubs but also another team. Ranked No. 16 on the Cubs' top-30 list, Cruz was drafted in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft but has yet to appear in a single game, spending last season at the Cubs Spring training site working out. Born in the Dominican Republic, Cruz became eligible to sign with a team in 2022 as part of the International Free Agent period. Instead, he moved to Florida for his final two years of high school and continued to work hard to become a better player. He did run into a bump in the road during his senior season after knee surgery in 2023, which made it harder to scout him. Still, the Cubs must've seen something in him as they made a surprise third-round selection and signed Cruz for $620K, which was enough to pull him away from his Miami University commitment. Despite his young age and rather slender frame (6-2 170 pounds), Cruz possesses a quick right-handed swing that has already shown impressive power. Although he has yet to tap into his powerfully, there is little doubt that he will be someone hitting 20 or homers every season with 30-homer potential. Given that he missed some time with a knee injury in high school, the Cubs knew that it would take him a little bit to adjust to pro-level pitching, which is why they held him out of games last season. They wanted him to get as much work as possible in Arizona to get used to the pro game, and that tends to come in handy for prep stars, as Cruz is expected to make his professional debut with the ACL Cubs this season. Following his knee injury, many people were skeptical about Cruz and his athletic ability, as he provided average speed at best. However, now that he is 100% healed from that injury, Cruz has returned to his old ways and continues to flash plus speed when allowed to show his speed. Whenever you talk about a shortstop, you immediately talk about their overall athletic skill set, as SS can switch positions much easier than most positional players. Although Cruz has the ability to do that, the Cubs love the way he handles the shortstop position, and the plan for him right now is to continue anchoring it for as long as they will let him. If the day comes when a position change is needed, CF is the fallback option, given what he can do defensively. In any case, this is one of the many overlooked prospects in the Cubs system for various reasons, as he hasn't gotten a chance to showcase his skills quite yet. Should he pan out the way the Cubs expect him to, you could see him wind up in South Bend by the end of this season, which would be a massive accomplishment.
