Fernando Cruz’s overhaul, ‘gift from God’ pitch paying off in big way for Yankees

One of the filthiest pitchers in the game through nearly three weeks of the regular season was among the least effective pitchers through about a month of the Grapefruit League season.

“You can look up my numbers in spring training,” Fernando Cruz said with a laugh before the Yankees played the Royals in The Bronx on Tuesday. “They were ridiculous.”

Those numbers: nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 6 ¹/₃ innings in which he gave up three homers with a 1.89 WHIP.

His 11 strikeouts reflected the caliber of stuff, but results during his exhibition season were particularly meaningless.