José Cruz (pitcher)

José Leonidas Cruz (born May 18, 2000) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization.

Cruz was born in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. He was drafted by the Giants in 2017.

Pitching for the DSL Giants in 2018 he was 2–2 with five saves and a 4.88 ERA in 20 relief appearances. Pitching for the Giants Black in 2019 he was 2–3 with one save and a 4.50 ERA in 14 games (3 starts) in which he pitched 46 innings. Cruz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 pitching for Giants Black he was 3–1 with five saves and a 4.44 ERA in 19 relief appearances, as in 24.1 innings he struck out 42 batters (15.5 strikeouts per 9 innings).

In 2022 with the Single-A San Jose Giants, he was 2–1 with 6 saves in 6 opportunities in 38 relief appearances, as in 52.1 innings he gave up 21 hits and struck out 86 batters (14.8 strikeouts per 9 innings). Post-season he was named a California League All Star, and named the “Best Relief Pitcher Prospect” in the California League by Baseball America. On November 15, 2022, the Giants added Cruz to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Cruz was optioned to the High–A Eugene Emeralds to begin the 2023 season. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 17. Cruz re-signed a minor league contract with the Giants on November 20.