From the Collection: Nelson Cruz, DH, Minnesota Twins
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Nelson Cruz is hitting .283/.399/.681 this season, with 5 HR. He has 6 walks to 46 K’s. After 19 seasons in the big leagues, it looks like the 42-year-old’s career might finally be coming to an end. But it was a very fine career.
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It took Nelson Cruz a while to find a permanent spot in the majors. He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets in 1998 but was traded first in 2000 to Oakland, then again in 2004 to Milwaukee, and then again in 2006 to Texas.
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Then, in 2009 at the age of 28, the breakout happened. Cruz hit 33 HR for the Rangers, with a very nice 117 OPS+, earning his first All-Star Game selection. It was the start of a 12-season run where he would average 33 HR a season, carry a 137 OPS+, be selected to seven All-Star teams, win four Silver Sluggers, and place in the Top 10 for MVP votes five times. He would accomplish this all while jumping around to five different teams–Texas, Seattle, Minnesota, and Tampa Bay.