We performed a site update on April 16, 2013. Please let the admin know if you User_talk:Admin#APRIL_16.2C_2013 encounter any issues. All updates have been performed.
Nelson Cruz (cruzne02)
From BR Bullpen
Nelson Ramon Cruz
(Nellie)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 225 lb.
- Debut September 17, 2005
- Born July 1, 1980 in Monte Cristi D.R.
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Information
Nelson Cruz was on two Caribbean Series winners in a row. He was signed by scout Eddy Toledo for the New York Mets in February 1998. He played for the DSL Mets 1 in 1998-1999, DSL Mets 2 in 1999, and DSL Mets East in 2000. He was then traded to the Oakland Athletics for Jorge Velandia and spent 2001 to 2004 in the A's minor-league system. Acquired by Milwaukee before 2005, he was called up that year and batted .200 in 8 games. He was Milwaukee's Minor League Player of the Year in 2005. In 2006 he hit .302 with 22 doubles, 20 home runs, 73 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 104 Minor League games for the Brewers. Cruz came to Texas from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline in 2006. He hit .223 with six homers and 22 RBIs, playing 41 games for Texas. Cruz then credited Ranger coach Rudy Jaramillo with helping him improve during the winter of 2006-2007. The pair worked on shortening Cruz's swing, patience at the plate and situational hitting.
He won the Rangers' starting right field job in 2007. The Rangers planned for him to become an everyday player on the major league level, but it did not take as he had a disappointing season, however, hitting .235 with 9 home runs in 307 at-bats. In the 2008 Caribbean Series, Cruz led the Tigres del Licey in average, hitting .407/.429/.667 to help them to a title. His Dominican League manager, Felix Fermin, was quoted as saying: "He's serious, and most important, he is a hard worker, ... very dedicated to his profession. He won't make the Rangers organization look bad if he is given the opportunity." However, he was sent back to AAA in 2008. There he had an outstanding season for the Oklahoma RedHawks and was named the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player. In AAA that year, he hit .342/.429/.695 with 37 home runs and 99 RBI in 103 games on his way to the MVP title. He led the PCL in slugging, was third in average, was second to Brian Myrow in OBP, was second to Dallas McPherson in homers and was third with 24 steals, trailing Andres Torres and Tim Raines Jr. He continued hitting well with the 2008 Rangers, putting him once again in the picture for a full-time job in the outfield. He put up a batting line of .330/.421/.609 in 31 games with 7 home runs, 26 RBI and 17 walks.
Cruz was the left fielder for the disappointing 1-2 Dominican Republic entry in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He was one of their better performers, going 3 for 11 with 2 walks and a homer, the long ball coming off Manuel Corpas in their win over Panama. This good form carried over into the 2009 regular season, as Cruz showed excellent power, earning a spot on the All-Star team by having 22 homers at the break. He made the final of the Home Run Derby, losing out to Prince Fielder. He ended the season with 33 homers and 76 RBI in 128 games. In 2010, he only played in 108 games because of various injuries, but was excellent during when he was in the line-up. His batting line was .318/.374/.576 with 22 homers and 78 RBI. He was a one-man wrecking crew in the Rangers' win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, hitting 2 doubles and 3 homers in 5 games, then added 3 doubles and 2 homers in the ALCS against the New York Yankees, for a combined batting average of .375. He cooled down in the World Series in Texas's loss in 5 games to the San Francisco Giants, but still managed 2 doubles and a homer.
Nelson Cruz opened the 2011 season by hitting a homer in each of his team's first four games. Only Willie Mays (in 1971) and Mark McGwire (in 1998) had accomplished the feat before him. Not coincidentally, the Rangers opened the season with four straight wins. He had another very good season, hitting .263/.312/.509 with 28 doubles, 29 homers and 87 RBI. After going 1 for 15 in the ALDS against the Rays, he exploded in the ALCS facing the Detroit Togers: he hit 6 homers and 2 doubles, scored 7 runs and drove in 13 to propel the Rangers into the World Series for the second straight year. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the ALCS, unsurprisingly. He wasn't as dominant in the Fall Classic against the St. Louis Cardinals, but still managed a pair of home runs, with 5 runs scored. He appeared to have hit a third homer in the 6th inning of Game 7 off Chris Carpenter, but left fielder Allen Craig leapt to grab the ball over the fence. It was the Rangers' last real threat of the game, as they went down, 6-2, to fall short of the ultimate prize for the second straight year.
On May 25, 2012, Cruz had one of his best games against the Toronto Blue Jays: he went 4 for 5, hit a grand slam off Jason Frasor and drove in a career-high 8 runs, to lead the Rangers to a 14-3 win.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 2008 MVP Pacific Coast League Oklahoma RedHawks
- AL All-Star (2009)
- 2011 ALCS MVP
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 4 (2009-2012)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (2009)
