Because the Yankees labored on a 4-2 win over the Orioles on Sunday, a well-recognized tune conjured photos of the African Serengeti within the Bronx in the course of the eighth inning.
“Nants, ingonyama, bagithi baba, sithi uhm ingonyama,” blared by way of Yankee Stadium’s sound system because the well-known Zulu opening to “The Lion King” started. However no dawn painted the horizon. No rhinos, antelope or meerkats stirred. No elephants, giraffes or zebras roamed.
Nevertheless, three Orioles did strike out after the Yankees’ closest creature to a lion made his option to his model of Satisfaction Rock to the tune of the enduring Disney intro. Such is the soundtrack each time Fernando Cruz takes the mound at Yankee Stadium.
Luke Weaver, who enters video games to Darth Vader’s theme, a.okay.a. “The Imperial March,” earlier than Gary Wright’s trippy “Dream Weaver” mellows the vibe, feels that “Circle of Life” is an ideal match for Cruz.
“He’s a family guy,” he mentioned. “He’s got a bunch of kids. He cares a lot, and he’s ferocious. I mean, he’s a lion out there.”
Weaver, who as soon as described himself as a “ferocious jungle cat,” added that the tune’s tender construct foreshadows what Cruz goes to unleash from the mound.
As a rule, it’s a splitter. With one of many deadliest within the sport, Cruz has preyed upon batters this season, racking up 50 strikeouts to go together with a 3.26 ERA over 30.1 innings in his first season with the Yankees.
On Sunday, Cruz punched out Baltimore’s Ramón Laureano, Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins — all on splitters — earlier than the Yankees rallied within the backside of the eighth. The comeback win wouldn’t have been attainable with out the lion-loving reliever.
“On balance, he’s been outstanding for us this year,” Aaron Boone mentioned. “That was massive to keep the game right there, and then the offense took it from there.”
Whereas Weaver likes the temper that the “Circle of Life” units, Cruz’s resolution to make use of the tune has extra to do with “The Lion King’s” themes than anything.
“It’s a great message that you don’t have to be the strongest. You don’t have to be the tallest. You don’t have to be the smartest,” he mentioned. “You just have to have some character and take control in any situation, and for me, that’s the lion. He’s not the biggest, he’s not the wildest, but his attitude puts him in control of everything around him.”
Cruz, a religious Christian, additionally talked about the Lion of Judah when discussing his tune choice.
Very similar to “The Lion King’s” characters, Cruz is aware of all about persevering by way of robust instances.
Like Simba, the movie’s foremost character, Cruz misplaced a guardian when his mom, Virginia Manon, died of mind most cancers in 2021. She by no means watched her son pitch within the majors, however Cruz is aware of she’d be proud to see him enjoying for the Yankees, his favourite group rising up, following his personal wandering journey of self-discovery.
Drafted as a shortstop by the Royals out of highschool in 2007, Cruz didn’t make his large league debut till 2022 on the age of 32. He didn’t begin pitching till 2011, spent the 2015 season within the Cubs’ system, and was minimize by Chicago in March 2016. He then performed international and impartial ball till Cincinnati inked him to a minor league deal in February 2022.
Now 35, Cruz suited up for the New Jersey Jackals, the Puerto Rican Winter League, the Venezuelan Winter League, the Dominican Winter League, the Caribbean Sequence, the Mexican League, the Mexican Pacific Winter League and the Autumn Mexican League earlier than the Reds gave him an opportunity.
“Cincinnati is a special place,” Cruz mentioned Sunday with the Yankees making ready for 3 video games at Nice American Ball Park. “It’s going to be like that my whole life. It’s where I made my debut. It’s the organization that gave me the opportunity, and I really appreciate everything they’ve done. Now I’m in another chapter of my life and my career with the Yankees, and we’re gonna take care of business.”
Cruz mentioned he used “Circle of Life” as his warmup tune at every of his stops. He has tried different songs alongside the best way, however none have caught or meant as a lot to him.
“Everybody’s asked me about it, and I explain myself,” Cruz mentioned. “And now a lot of people call me a lion.”
