The Royals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Cruz has appeared in just three big league games up to this point after playing in 69 games for the Cardinals last year, but he will serve as the Royals' third catcher during September. Cruz posted a .264/.347/.387 slash line over 92 games with Omaha this season.

Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cruz was serving as the club's third catcher and received the call-up with Salvador Perez nursing a minor injury, but the 29-year-old went hitless in three at bats and will now head back to the minors. He's hit a decent .278/.352/.417 at the Triple-A level, so Cruz could see more time in the majors if Kansas City finds themselves pressed for catching depth.

Cruz was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Rustin Dodd of The Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cruz will help fortify the Royals' depth behind the plate after Salvador Perez was diagnosed with a quad contusion following Saturday's game. While Perez will avoid a DL stint for the time being, he's still expected to miss seven-to-10 days, so Cruz may be able to pick up a start or two over the next week. Cruz will act as the top backup to Drew Butera until Perez is ready to return.

Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Wednesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cruz was third on the Royals' depth chart behind Salvador Perez and Drew Butera so it seems they are comfortable going with a two-catcher platoon entering the regular season. A career .220 hitter in the MLB, Cruz will likely remain with Triple-A Omaha during the 2016 season and could see a call up if Perez or Butera go down with an injury.

Drew Butera appears to be the leading candidate for the backup catcher job over Cruz, the Kansas City Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals traded for Cruz in the offseason, but it appears Butera's defense will win him the backup role. Cruz will likely be headed to Triple-A.

Cruz and the Royals agreed to terms on a one-year, $975,000 deal Friday, avoiding arbitration, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Royals acquired Cruz from St. Louis last month after the Cards signed Bryan Pena. Cruz will go from backing up Yadier Molina to backing up Salvador Perez in Kansas City, and Cruz figures to have only a minor role given Perez's status as one of baseball's most used catchers. Perez played in 142 games last season.

Cruz was traded from the Cardinals to the Royals on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Cruz became dispensable following the Cardinals' signing of Brayan Pena, and the backstop will now serve as the backup to Salvador Perez rather than Yadier Molina. While Yadier Molina generally sees a lot of starts behind the plate when healthy, Salvador Perez is one of the most heavily used catchers in the league (142 games last season), limiting any potential production from Cruz barring an injury.

Cruz will start Game 4 of the NLDS after it was announced Yadier Molina was a late scratch from the lineup, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cruz will take over behind the plate and hit eighth in the order for Molina, who was forced out of the lineup with a nagging injury in his thumb. With the veteran catcher's status up in the air moving forward, Cruz could see a significant increase in playing time if the Cardinals stay alive in the postseason.

Cruz is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader.

EDGE Analysis

After starting Game 1, Cruz will rest for the night cap in favor of Ed Easley behind the plate.

Cruz started both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates, racking up four hits -- including two doubles and a two-run homer -- over eight at-bats.

EDGE Analysis

You don't typically see a catcher play 18 innings, nor do you typically see a guy hitting .197 bust out three extra-base hits in a day, but that's just what Cruz did. He's been getting regular time with Yadier Molina (thumb) on the shelf, though he wasn't doing a whole ton with the bat before Wednesday's bust-out.