The Royals activated Cruz (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Cruz has been on the shelf since Aug. 3 due to tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, but he's been cleared to rejoin the active roster. The 26-year-old made four appearances during a minor-league rehab stint, allowing three hits and no walks with four strikeouts across 4.1 innings. Lucas Erceg (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Pitching well in rehab assignment
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Cruz (shoulder) struck out two and gave up a hit and no walks over 1.1 innings in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Cruz has yet to allow a run in four rehab outings with Triple-A Omaha as he works back from right shoulder tendinitis. Before the injury, he posted a 3.61 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 42.1 innings in 43 appearances out of Kansas City's bullpen. A return to the majors should come soon, giving the club a fresh relief option after a taxing series against Seattle.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Cruz (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Cruz has missed more than a month of action with right shoulder tendinitis but is ready to test things out in a game setting. As long as things go well, the righty reliever shouldn't require too many rehab outings before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Completes another side session
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Cruz (shoulder) threw a bullpen session of about 20 pitches Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Cruz has now completed two side sessions since landing on the injured list Aug. 3 and is expected to increase the volume and intensity of his bullpen work during the upcoming week before advancing to facing live hitters. The right-hander will likely require a rehab assignment prior to being activated from the injured list but could be ready to rejoin the Kansas City bullpen around mid-September.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Completes shortened bullpen session
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Cruz (shoulder) threw a light bullpen Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Cruz took a step forward in his rehab for right shoulder tendinitis, throwing a short bullpen session of 15 to 20 pitches. The right-hander had previously been limited to flat-ground work from about 75 feet, so this progression is encouraging. While the Royals haven't provided a firm timeline, a late-season return remains on the table.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Early stages of throwing program
Rotowire
Cruz (shoulder) is throwing from about 75 feet and is in the beginning stages of his throwing progression, MLB.com reports.
Cruz was placed on the injured list Aug. 3 with right shoulder tendinitis and, per manager Matt Quatraro, is still in the early stages of his rehab. While no firm return date has been set, the slow pace of his recovery suggests the 26-year-old is more likely to return sometime in September than by the end of August.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Reevaluation looming
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Cruz (shoulder) is set to be reevaluated Monday to determine if he can begin a throwing program, per MLB.com.
Cruz landed on the injured list Aug. 3 and received an injection the following day for a right shoulder injury labeled as tendonitis. Before hitting the shelf, the right-hander had climbed the ranks in the Royals bullpen, opening the year with 13 scoreless outings before leveling off to a 3.61 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 43 appearances (42.1 innings).
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Receives injection in shoulder
Rotowire
Cruz got an injection in his right shoulder Monday and could be cleared to play catch early next week, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Cruz is working through shoulder tendinitis, which caused him to be placed on the Royals' 15-day injured list Sunday. Monday's injection was done to speed up the recovery process, and how his shoulder feels this week will determine when he takes the next step in his throwing program. Cruz posted a 3.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and seven holds over 42.1 innings this season prior to his injury.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Out with shoulder impingement
Rotowire
The Royals placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right shoulder impingement.
Cruz departed Saturday's game against the Blue Jays due to the injury and will be sidelined for at least the next couple of weeks. Daniel Lynch (elbow) was reinstated from the IL in a corresponding move to round out Kansas City's bullpen.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Pulled with shoulder injury
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Cruz was removed from Saturday's game against the Blue Jays with right shoulder discomfort, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Cruz gave up a hit and a walk in the seventh inning before his shoulder forced him to leave the game without recording an out. There's no word yet on the severity of his injury, but the Royals should offer some more details after they get a closer look at him.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Earns third win
Rotowire
Cruz (3-1) earned the win Saturday against the Guardians. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning.
Cruz found himself in a jam in the top of the 10th inning but limited the damage to one run and ultimately earned the win after Jonathan India walked it off in the bottom half of the frame. The reliever entered July with a 2.20 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over 32.2 innings but has struggled this month, posting a 6.14 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 7.1 innings. Despite the rough stretch, his season-long numbers remain strong, with a 2.93 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 40 innings, backed by a fastball that regularly touches 98 mph.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
Cruz takes the roster spot of Hunter Harvey, who was placed on the 15-day IL with a right teres major strain. Cruz pitched in five regular-season games for the Royals last season, posting a 0.00 ERA and 4:0 K:BB across 5.2 innings of work.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Will start 2025 in Triple-A
Rotowire
Cruz was optioned by the Royals to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Cruz had a good showing during spring training, posting a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across seven frames. The 25-year-old right-hander didn't allow a run in 5.2 big-league innings last season and could be among the first players called up when the Royals bullpen needs reinforcements.
The Royals optioned Cruz to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
He'll give up his spot on the 28-man active roster with Michael Lorenzen (hamstring) returning from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game versus the Nationals. Cruz has spun 5.2 scoreless frames during his time with the big club in 2024.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
He'll provide the Royals with a healthy reliever after James McArthur (elbow) went down. Cruz has three scoreless appearances during his time in the majors in 2024.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Sent back to Omaha
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Cruz to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Cruz had three scoreless appearances during his brief stint in the majors but nonetheless will head back to Omaha. He could get another opportunity later this month.
The Royals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.
Cruz, 25, was with the Royals briefly earlier this season but didn't make an appearance. He's collected a 3.35 ERA and 55:23 K:BB over 48.1 innings this season with Omaha and is likely to be used in low-leverage situations.
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Royals' Steven Cruz: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals optioned Cruz to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
Cruz was recalled Thursday to bolster the Royals' bullpen after Dan Altavilla (oblique) was placed on the injured list. Cruz did not make a major-league appearance, and he will return to Omaha where he has registered a 4.50 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB over 26 innings. The move comes with Michael Wacha (foot) being reinstated from the 15-day injured list.
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