MLB
San Diego Padres sign Mexican pitcher Humberto Cruz
The teenage pitcher, who made his professional debut with the Diablos Rojos del México last year, joins the California team for the 2024 season.
The San Diego Padres have officially announced the incorporation of Mexican pitcher Humberto Cruz. The teenager, who was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, has been handed a dream opportunity and could become the 148th Mexican to debut within Major League Baseball. Cruz made his LMB debut with the Diablos Rojos del México last year. He will start out with the Padres minor leagues affiliates (High-A or AA), with the hope of graduating to the senior side within the next three to four years.
The Padres, who welcomed the 17-year-old pitcher on board with a video published on their social media accounts, have handed him a long-term contract. With the Californian squad Cruz will be able to share the diamond with stars such as Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado and Yu Darvish, among others.
The young player said, “With this move, I have realized a dream that I have had since I was a boy - now it’s become a reality. I have a lot to learn in the Gran Carpa, and will need to be patient to continue learning and making my up through the farm system to the first team”.
Who is Humberto Cruz?
Humberto Cruz started playing baseball when he was aged just three years old. His passion for the sport continued throughout his formative years and by the time he was 11, he knew that he wanted to carve out a career in the sport. He has been supported along the way and this week gained his reward of reaching the big leagues.
Scout Joel Serna spotted the young pitcher and signed him for the Diablos Rojos del México in 2022 when he was still 15. He was part of the Diablos Rojos roster in the Mexican Winter League (LIM), making a total of three appearances. In November of the same year he played with the Mexican Under-18 National Team at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup that took place in La Paz, Baja California. On 3 June 2023, he made his long-awaited debut in the LMB, in the 5-3 victory over Mariachis.
In addition to his outstanding participation on the mound, Cruz has maintained his academic training in conjunction with his sports training, continuing as his studies at the preparatory level, online. Padres scout Emmanuel Rangel said, “We have been following his progress during the past four years. We started watching him in tournament in Nuevo León and from there have been keeping up with his development. In the medium term, he will work with the A or Double-A affiliates, where he will get a chance to learn a lot and in four or five years, I see him in the major leagues triumphing with the Padres”.