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Have just three games remaining, so although no official announcement has been made, it's certainly possible Cruz's season has already come to a close. 's eye surgery went well, the veteran announced on his personal Twitter page Tuesday. Cubs, Drew Smyly near deal for 2023 season, sources say The Cubs are closing in on an agreement to bring back left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.
On September 7, 2014, in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Cruz went 4-for-5 with two home runs and 7 RBIs, including his 100th RBI of the season. His previous season high in RBIs had been 90, set in 2012. In 159 games played in 2014, Cruz had an MLB-leading 40 home runs along with a .271 batting average, 32 doubles, and 108 RBI. He led AL right fielders in range factor for the third straight year (2.29).
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Cruz was born on July 1, 1980, in Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic. His father, Nelson Cruz Sr., also played professional baseball in the Dominican Republic. Both his parents are successful professors and they raised Cruz and his two sisters, Nelsy and Olga, in a well-to-do Dominican neighborhood. Growing up, Cruz's passion was for basketball, not baseball.
Nevertheless, Cruz has been one of the best power hitters of the past decade. It will be interesting to see how many more homers he can tally to his total before all is said and done. The performance marked the 19th four-hit game of Cruz’s career and his fifth with the Twins. (Three of those have come against the White Sox.) His seven RBIs fell one shy of a career high and marked his highest total since June 22, 2018, when he was with the Mariners.
Nelson Cruz went yard 10 times in 2022.
Cruz wore #23 with the Orioles and continued wearing 23 in his stops with the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and Tampa Bay Rays. On December 16, 2004, Cruz was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielder Keith Ginter. Cruz was assigned to the Double-A Huntsville Stars to begin the 2005 season before receiving a promotion to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. On February 17, 1998, Cruz signed with the New York Mets organization as a non-drafted free agent. Cruz played for three years in the Dominican Summer League. Isn't in the lineup for the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Phillies.
He ranked third in the AL in OBP (.397), fourth in OPS, fifth in SLG (.595), tied for fifth in home runs and seventh in batting average, leading to winning the Silver Slugger Award at DH, his fourth overall Silver Slugger. On July 5, Cruz had his first career 5-hit game, with two singles, two doubles, and a home run, falling a triple shy of the cycle , against the Red Sox. He was elected into his third MLB All-Star Game, as a designated hitter, for the American League.
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On July 22, he had 8 RBIs in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays; it was Cruz's career high in RBIs. Aaron Judge's record-breaking 62nd HR ball sells for $1.5M The record-setting 62nd home run ball hit by Aaron Judge sold at auction for $1.5 million Saturday, half of what the ball's seller said he once turned down for the piece of sports history. May 30, 2010 Texas Rangers placed RF Nelson Cruz on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 29, 2010. It’s impossible to quantify what Cruz has meant to this clubhouse.
He should still be considered day-to-day leading into Tuesday's contest. Although Cruz hasn't been placed on the injured list, he'll remain out for a 14th consecutive matchup due to left eye inflammation. Whether he'll be available for Friday's nightcap remains to be seen, but Luke Voit will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup in the matinee. Cruz is on the bench for a 13th consecutive game as he continues to deal with left eye inflammation. Luke Voit will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup once again.
On August 25, 2008, the Rangers purchased Cruz's contract from the RedHawks. The Twins picked up Cruz' option for 2020, in which he batted .303 with a .992 OPS, 16 home runs and 33 RBI. Although slowed by a sore knee later in the season, Cruz appeared in 53 of 60 games. He doubled twice in a span of six at bats in a season-ending AL Wild Card Series loss to the Houston Astros.
But Cruz's achievement is even more impressive when you consider the company he's keeping. This marks back-to-back seasons of 40+ home runs for Cruz, and that puts him in some pretty rarified air. In 2016, Cruz batted .287 with 43 home runs and 104 RBIs. He was not selected as an All-Star, but did finish 15th in the American League MVP voting. His batted balls had the highest average exit velocity of the season in the major leagues, at 94.4 miles per hour. He also hit the second-longest home run in MLB in 2016, at 493 feet.
Cruz emerged from the dugout to receive a raucous standing ovation and curtain call in the Twins' regular-season home finale. Even when we're behind, they give us that energy to step up and do good things." Cruz didn’t let a recurring wrist injury stand in his way either, even after he ruptured a tendon. On Sunday, he made one of those predictions come true and pushed the Twins closer to the next. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Minnesota Twins and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more.
On October 10, 2011, Cruz hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS versus the Detroit Tigers. He became the first player in baseball history to hit a walk-off grand slam in a postseason game. In Game 5 of the 2010 World Series vs. the San Francisco Giants, Cruz hit a home run off of Tim Lincecum in the 7th inning. It was around this time that Cruz began to refer to his baseball bat as a "boomstick." On July 28, 2006, the Brewers sent Cruz and outfielder Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero.
In July, he was selected as an All-Star as a replacement for injured Torii Hunter. He also participated in the 2009 Home Run Derby, finishing second to Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. It's very possible that Cruz won't return this season, but that has not be explicitly stated. Luke Voit will handle the designated hitter duties in the matinee. August 20, 2009 Texas Rangers activated RF Nelson Cruz from the 15-day disabled list. April 27, 2010 Texas Rangers placed RF Nelson Cruz on the 15-day disabled list.
Cruz failed to make the major league roster prior to the 2008 season and cleared waivers after being designated for assignment because he had exhausted his minor league options. With the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks, Cruz had a .341 batting average and had 37 home runs and 100 runs batted in ; for his efforts, Cruz won the 2008 Pacific Coast League MVP Award. During his time with the Redhawks, Cruz began using an open batting stance, which helped him see the ball better and become a more productive hitter.
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Instead, Nelson Cruz just about singlehandedly showed that he and the Bomba Squad are still the juggernauts to beat in the division -- and the Twins’ big bats quickly put any doubt about that to rest. It's also a leadership quality that others have copied and found useful. And it's not just midday naps, Cruz also believes in the power of a good night's sleep.
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