Berti is a versatile player who has played shortstop, third base, left field, right field, second base and designated hitter for Miami in the last season. As the Yankees cope with injuries to DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza in the early going, Berti could fill in at any infield position.
He has a lifetime batting average of.258 with 23 home runs and 92 steals. The 33-year-old made his major league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 and has spent the past six years in the majors. He’s under team control until 2025.
The 18-year-old outfielder is listed at 6-foot-3 and weighing 171 pounds. Here’s part of his MLB.com prospect profile:
Cruz improved his approach and power last year, after appearing launch-happy and passive in his 2022 professional debut. His rapid left-handed stroke makes for booming contact when he connects, and he has the potential to develop into a strong hitter if he fills out his projectable body and improves his hitting technique. He controls the strike zone well for a teenager, but his aggressiveness results in less-than-ideal contact.
Cruz has good speed right now, but he’s still learning how to use it on the bases and outfield. He is not an instinctive defender and spent the majority of his FCL time in right field, where he demonstrates strong arm strength. To play centre, he would need to refine his reads and routes while maintaining his quickness as he matured physically.
