Ismael Cruz's journey in baseball is a remarkable tale of dedication and family influence. Growing up in Santo Domingo, he was exposed to the world of baseball at a young age, tagging along with his father Pablo to fields and watching him sign players for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This early exposure laid the foundation for Cruz's future in scouting.

"The Dominican Scout's Impact on Baseball's Future"

Early Beginnings and Family Lessons

Ismael Cruz vividly recalls his father bringing young Pirates players like Tony Peña to their home for dinner. The lesson of treating players like family and nurturing them on and off the field was ingrained in him. Pablo Cruz, after nearly 50 years as a scout, recently retired but still works as a hitting consultant. He signed over 20 players who reached the major leagues and mentored Omar Minaya, the first Latino general manager in MLB history.Ismael Cruz, now 55 and the Dodgers' vice president of international scouting, has worked in the scouting field for most of the last 30 years. He has held various roles, including manager in the Dominican Summer League and baseball agent. His decades-long contributions have earned him the Tony Gwynn Award this year.

Signing Successes and Streaks

Cruz has been one of the best international scouts of his generation. For the last 15 seasons in a row, at least one player he signed has reached the majors. Righthander Jenrry Mejia and shortstop Ruben Tejada began this streak with the Mets in 2010. Righthander Edgardo Henriquez became his latest big leaguer with the Dodgers in 2024.He has signed most of his players out of the Dominican Republic but has also signed from Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, and Panama. Two of the top six finishers in the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year race were signed by Cruz: Yordan Alvarez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Challenges and Growth

Cruz's early days with the Expos were challenging. In 2002, he had a $100,000 budget to run the entire international department with no money to sign players. He signed players for no bonus that year, including a pair from Argentina, but no one reached the majors. However, this experience helped him learn and grow as a scout.Later, with the Mets and Blue Jays, he had more resources and success. The Mets reached the World Series in 2015, with five of Cruz's signed players playing in the series.

Family Influence and Succession

Cruz has his own little family scouting tree. His son Jonathan Cruz is the Braves' Latin American scouting director, and his other son Brian Cruz worked with the Angels. Cruz's international scouting protégés can be found scouring ballfields for the next wave of talent.Ismael Cruz credits his father with preparing him and Minaya with giving him his first opportunity. Along the way, he has built strong bonds with his colleagues, like Astros GM Dana Brown, who calls him his "primo."After a decades-long career, Ismael Cruz has proven himself to be one of the best talent evaluators in the business, doing it the right way and setting an example for his family and the baseball world.