Nelson Cruz (outfielder)

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Nelson Cruz
position=Right fielder
team=Texas Rangers
number=17
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1980|7|1
birthplace=Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic
debutdate=September 17
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.251
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=22
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=82| teams=
*Milwaukee Brewers (by|2005)
*Texas Rangers (by|2006-present)

Nelson Ramon Cruz (born July 1, 1980 in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers.

Cruz was acquired by the Rangers from the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28, mlby|2006 along with slugging outfielder Carlos Lee in exchange for Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero, and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero. He had spent the by|2005 and 2006 seasons in the Brewers organization with the Double-A Huntsville Stars, Triple-A Nashville Sounds, and briefly in September of mlby|2005, the major league Brewers.

Before joining the Brewers organization, Cruz played in the Oakland Athletics system. The Brewers acquired him from Oakland along with pitcher Justin Lehr in exchange for infielder Keith Ginter on December 16, by|2004. He was initially signed as a free agent by the New York Mets, who traded him to Oakland for Jorge Velandia on August 30, by|2000, after three years in the Dominican Summer League.

On August 16, 2006, in his first at-bat with the bases loaded, Cruz hit the first grand slam of his career. On September 4, 2006, against the Athletics at home, Cruz hit an inside-the-park home run in which his bat broke on impact.

In spring training for the mlby|2007 season, Cruz got off to a rough start, but finished strong by hitting three home runs in the final week, including a walk-off home run in the final game of spring training.

Cruz's contract was purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma by the Rangers on August 25, mlby|2008, after batting .342 with 37 home runs and 99 RBI; for his efforts, he won the by|2008 PCL MVP award.

External links

* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/nelson-cruz-1.shtml Nelson Cruz Minor League Stats at the Baseball Cube]
* [http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?pl=443558 Nelson Cruz Minor League Splits and Situational Stats]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cruzne02.shtml Nelson Cruz at Baseball-Reference.com]