Yankees place struggling RHP Fernando Cruz (elbow) on IL

Field Level Media|published: Wed 26th August, 16:28 2026

Aug 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz (63) hands the ball to manager Aaron Boone (17) after being taken out of the game during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees placed right-hander Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to elbow discomfort in his pitching arm.

Cruz has struggled since the All-Star break and he served up a two-run homer to Houston's Jeremy Pena in Tuesday's 9-7 home loss to the Astros.

After the contest, reporters noted that Cruz left the clubhouse with a team trainer.

Cruz, 36, sported a stellar 2.20 ERA after tossing a scoreless inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 17. Since then, he has served up five homers and walked 10 in 13 2/3 innings while allowing nine earned runs for a 5.93 ERA during the span.

Overall, Cruz is 4-6 with two saves and a 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances this season. He is in his second season in New York after spending the previous three with the Cincinnati Reds.

Cruz is 11-21 with four saves and a 4.03 ERA in 251 big league appearances (seven starts).

The Yankees also optioned right-hander Bradley Hanner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, recalled right-hander Elmer Rodriguez from the same affiliate and signed right-hander Michael Fulmer and added him to the active roster. New York transferred right-hander Kervin Castro (elbow) to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot for Fulmer.

Hanner, 27, had a 6.75 ERA in three appearances with New York in his first action in the majors.

Rodriguez, 23, received his first big-league opportunities earlier this season when he went 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA in four starts.

Fulmer, 33, was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. He cleared waivers and subsequently chose to be a free agent on Tuesday and the Yankees opted to take a chance on him.

He was American League Rookie of the Year in 2016 and an All-Star with the Detroit Tigers in 2017 before two major arm surgeries derailed his career. Fulmer is 37-50 with 19 saves and a 3.92 ERA in 268 appearances (90 starts) with five teams over nine seasons.

Fulmer gave up two hits over 3 2/3 scoreless innings in three appearances for the Angels.

--Field Level Media

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