Nelson Cruz

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Nelson Ramón Cruz Martínez Jr. was born on July 1, 1980, in Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic. His father, Nelson Cruz Sr., was also a professional baseball player in the Dominican Republic. Both of Cruz's parents were professors and raised Nelson and his two sisters, Nelsy and Olga, in the Dominican Republic.

1.2. Formative Years and Early Endeavors

Growing up, Cruz's primary passion was basketball, not baseball, with Michael Jordan being his idol. As a teenager, he played for the Dominican Republic Junior National Basketball Team. He attended the high school where his father taught history. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Cruz engaged in various jobs, working as a mechanic's helper with his uncle at a tractor factory. He also shined shoes and learned how to repair them. Demonstrating an early commitment to community well-being, in September 2012, he personally donated 20.00 K USD to help purchase a firetruck for his hometown of Las Matas de Santa Cruz and facilitated the donation of two ambulances through the assistance of American Medical Response.

2.1. Minor Leagues

Cruz began his professional baseball journey on February 17, 1998, when he signed with the New York Mets organization as a non-drafted free agent. He spent three years developing his skills in the Dominican Summer League. On August 30, 2000, the Mets traded Cruz to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for shortstop Jorge Velandia. This move came as the Mets' starting shortstop, Rey Ordóñez, was out with a broken arm, and other players had not effectively filled the void.

In 2001, Cruz played for the AZL Athletics, where he batted .250 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI in 23 games. The following season, he moved to the Low-A Vancouver Canadians, hitting .276 with 4 home runs and 25 RBI. In 2003, Cruz spent the year in Single-A with the Kane County Cougars, achieving career highs with 20 home runs and 85 RBI while batting .238. The 2004 season saw Cruz split his time across three levels: High-A Modesto A's, Double-A Midland RockHounds, and Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. During this period, he set new career highs with 26 home runs and 100 RBI, boasting a .326 batting average across 137 games.

2.2. Milwaukee Brewers (2005)

On December 16, 2004, Cruz was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielder Keith Ginter. He was assigned to the Double-A Huntsville Stars at the start of the 2005 season before being promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

Cruz made his Major League Baseball debut with the Brewers on September 17, 2005, entering as a late-inning defensive replacement at right field against the Houston Astros. He had limited opportunities, recording one hit in five at-bats for the Brewers that season. His sole hit was a double off Aaron Harang of the Cincinnati Reds on September 28. He began the 2006 season back with Nashville, where he continued to impress with a .302 batting average, .378 OBP, and .528 SLG in 102 games.

2.3. Texas Rangers (2006-2013)

On July 28, 2006, the Brewers traded Cruz and outfielder Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero, and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero. Cruz adopted uniform number 17 during his time with the Rangers. He hit his first career home run on July 31 against Willie Eyre of the Minnesota Twins. On August 16, Cruz achieved his first grand slam off Kevin Gregg of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. On September 4, 2006, against the Athletics, he hit an inside-the-park home run where his bat notably broke upon impact.

Despite a rough start to spring training in 2007, Cruz finished strong, hitting three home runs in the final week, including a walk-off home run in the last game of spring training. He failed to make the major league roster prior to the 2008 season and was designated for assignment, clearing waivers due to exhausting his minor league options. With the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks, Cruz excelled, batting .341 with 37 home runs and 100 RBI, earning him the 2008 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award. During his time with the RedHawks, Cruz adopted an open batting stance, which he credited with improving his vision of the ball and making him a more effective hitter. On August 25, 2008, the Rangers purchased Cruz's contract from the RedHawks.

The 2009 season proved to be a breakthrough for Cruz. In July, he was selected as an All-Star to replace the injured Torii Hunter. He also participated in the 2009 Home Run Derby, finishing second to Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. Cruz concluded the season with 33 home runs.

In the 2010 AL Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Cruz and teammate Ian Kinsler each hit three home runs. This marked only the second time in Major League history that two teammates each hit three homers in a postseason series of five games or fewer, a feat previously achieved by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the 1928 World Series. In Game 5 of the 2010 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, Cruz hit a home run off Tim Lincecum in the 7th inning. It was around this time that Cruz began referring to his baseball bat as a "boomstick."

In 2011, Cruz and Ian Kinsler made history by becoming the first two teammates in major league history to homer in each of the first three games of a season. Cruz then further extended this record, becoming only the third player ever, alongside Willie Mays and Mark McGwire, to homer in each of the first four games of a season. On July 22, he achieved a career-high 8 RBIs in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cruz also became only the second right-handed batter in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington to hit a home run into the upper deck in right field.

For the 2011 season, Cruz batted .263 with 29 home runs. He led AL right fielders in range factor for the third consecutive year (2.29). On October 10, 2011, Cruz hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers, becoming the first player in baseball history to do so in a postseason game. He followed this with a 3-run home run to secure Game 4 for the Rangers, becoming the first player to hit multiple extra-inning home runs in the same postseason series. During the 2011 ALCS, Cruz set postseason series records with six home runs and 13 RBIs, which earned him the 2011 ALCS MVP award. In Game 6 of the 2011 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Cruz hit a solo home run. This home run allowed him to tie the record for most postseason home runs in a single season with 8, an achievement he shared with Carlos Beltrán and Barry Bonds before Randy Arozarena broke it in 2020. However, in the ninth inning of that same Game 6, Cruz notably missed a fly ball that would have secured the Rangers' first championship. The Cardinals subsequently won that game and Game 7, ultimately winning the World Series.

2.4. Baltimore Orioles (2014)

On February 24, 2014, Cruz signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles worth 8.00 M USD. He wore number 23 with the Orioles, a number he continued to use during his subsequent tenures with the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and Tampa Bay Rays.

On July 5, Cruz had his first career 5-hit game against the Boston Red Sox, recording two singles, two doubles, and a home run, falling just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. He was elected to his third MLB All-Star Game as a designated hitter for the American League. On September 7, 2014, in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Cruz went 4-for-5 with two home runs and 7 RBIs, which included his 100th RBI of the season. His previous career high for RBIs was 90, set in 2012. Notably, Cruz was responsible for driving in all 7 runs scored by the Orioles in that game. He concluded the 2014 season having played in 159 games, leading Major League Baseball with 40 home runs, along with a .271 batting average, 32 doubles, and 108 RBI.

In the first game of the 2014 ALDS, Cruz homered off Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer. This was his 15th home run in 35 career postseason games, tying him with Babe Ruth for 10th place on the all-time postseason home run list. In the third game of the 2014 ALDS, Cruz hit his 16th postseason home home run against David Price of the Tigers, tying him for 9th place on the all-time postseason home run list with Carlos Beltrán. After rejecting the Orioles' qualifying offer of 15.30 M USD, Cruz declared free agency.

2.5. Seattle Mariners (2015-2018)

On December 4, 2014, Cruz signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners valued at 57.00 M USD. He was named the starting designated hitter for the 2015 American League All-Star team, marking his fourth overall and third consecutive All-Star selection. Cruz had arguably the best season of his career in 2015, batting .302 with a career-high 44 home runs and 93 RBIs. He hit the third-longest home run in MLB that year, measured at 483 ft. For his outstanding performance, he won his first career Silver Slugger Award and finished 6th in the American League MVP voting.

In 2016, Cruz continued his strong offensive production, batting .287 with 43 home runs and 104 RBIs. While he was not selected as an All-Star, he finished 15th in the American League MVP voting. His batted balls recorded the highest average exit velocity in Major League Baseball that season, at 94.4 mph. He also hit the second-longest home run in MLB in 2016, a blast measured at 493 ft.

Cruz was selected as an All-Star for the fifth time in his career in 2017. On July 7, he hit his 300th career home run in a Mariners victory over the Oakland Athletics. Cruz led the American League in RBIs with 119 and was the Mariners' leader in home runs (39), runs scored (91), extra base hits (67), walks (70), OPS (.924), on-base percentage (.375), and slugging percentage (.549). He also received the Edgar Martínez Award, which recognizes the most outstanding designated hitter.

In 2018, Cruz was again named to the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He concluded the season batting .256 with 37 home runs and 97 RBIs. At the time, he was the 8th-oldest player in the American League. After the 2018 season, he became a free agent.

2.6. Minnesota Twins (2019-2021)

On January 2, 2019, Cruz signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins worth 14.30 M USD, which included a 12.00 M USD team option for the 2020 season. On September 22, 2019, Cruz hit both his 400th career home run and his 40th home run of the season against the Kansas City Royals. He finished the season batting .311/.392/.639 with 41 home runs and 108 RBI in 120 games. He also recorded the highest hard-contact percentage among all major league batters at 52.5%. He was the fifth-oldest player in the American League that year and played exclusively as a designated hitter, appearing in 114 games at DH and six as a pinch hitter. His 1.031 OPS matched a club record, and his home run and RBI totals set new club records for a designated hitter. Cruz joined Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds as the only players to hit 40 home runs at age 39 or older. These achievements earned him his third career Silver Slugger Award and his second Edgar Martínez Award. Notably, Cruz hit 346 home runs during the 2010s, the highest total by any player in that decade.

The Twins exercised Cruz's option for the 2020 season, during which he batted .303 with a .992 OPS, 16 home runs, and 33 RBI in the shortened season. Despite being slowed by a sore knee late in the season, he appeared in 53 of 60 games. He doubled twice in a span of six at-bats during a season-ending AL Wild Card Series loss to the Houston Astros. 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. These statistics led to him winning his fourth Silver Slugger Award at designated hitter. He also finished sixth in the AL MVP voting.

For his extensive community work, Cruz was honored as the 2020 Marvin Miller Man of the Year by the MLB Players Association, an award recognizing the player who earned "most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community," particularly in his hometown of Las Matas de Santa Cruz. He also received the ESPYs Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in 2020. His humanitarian efforts included donating a police station and a fire station, replacing an aging ambulance, and spearheading a 400.00 K USD donation drive to help alleviate food shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership and dedication inspired his teammates to engage in their own community efforts.

Cruz became a free agent after the 2020 World Series. On February 10, 2021, he signed a one-year, 13.00 M USD contract to remain with Minnesota for the 2021 season. He was named an All-Star for the team in 2021, batting .294/.370/.537 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI in 85 games. In 2021, TheAthletic.com described Cruz as "one of the game's elite power hitters," while CBS Sports characterized him as "a steady purveyor of elite power production."

2.7. Tampa Bay Rays (2021)

On July 22, 2021, Nelson Cruz was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside Calvin Faucher in exchange for Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman. This mid-season move saw the Rays acquire the veteran slugger to bolster their lineup.

2.8. Washington Nationals (2022)

On March 13, 2022, Cruz signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals for 12.00 M USD, which included a mutual option for 2023. On August 15, Cruz recorded his 2,000th career Major League hit in a game against the Chicago Cubs, going 2-for-4.

Cruz concluded the 2022 season batting .234/.313/.337 in 448 at-bats, with 10 home runs and 64 RBIs across 124 games as a designated hitter. He grounded into 16 double plays, which ranked 9th in the National League. At this time, he was the oldest qualified batter in Major League Baseball. On November 7, the Nationals declined their 16.00 M USD mutual option on Cruz, making him a free agent.

2.9. San Diego Padres (2023)

On January 23, 2023, the San Diego Padres signed Cruz to a one-year contract worth 1.00 M USD. He played in 49 games for the Padres, where he hit .245/.283/.399 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI. Cruz was designated for assignment by San Diego on July 4, and subsequently released by the Padres on July 10.

2.10. Retirement

Nelson Cruz officially announced his retirement from baseball on November 2, 2023. On Opening Day, March 28, 2024, he signed a symbolic one-day contract to officially retire as a Seattle Mariners player, commemorating his impactful tenure with the team.

6.1. Major Achievements and Records

Cruz is recognized as one of baseball's premier sluggers of his era. He is a seven-time MLB All-Star, a testament to his consistent performance. He earned four Silver Slugger Awards, acknowledging his offensive prowess at his position, and two Edgar Martínez Awards as the league's most outstanding designated hitter. His individual statistical achievements include leading Major League Baseball with 40 home runs in 2014 and leading the American League with 119 RBIs in 2017. Furthermore, he notably hit 346 home runs during the 2010s, which was the highest number of home runs hit by any player in that decade.

A highlight of his postseason career was being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 American League Championship Series, during which he set postseason series records for home runs (6) and RBIs (13), including hitting the first walk-off grand slam in postseason history. He also achieved 2,000 career hits in 2022.

6.2. Community Involvement and Positive Recognition

Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Nelson Cruz has established a profound legacy through his extensive humanitarian work and community contributions, particularly in his native Dominican Republic. His dedication to social impact has earned him widespread recognition. In 2020, he was honored with the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award by the Major League Baseball Players Association, an award bestowed upon a player who earns the "most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community." In the same year, he received the ESPYs Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, further highlighting his commitment to leveraging his platform for positive societal change. In 2021, he was awarded the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, and community involvement.

Cruz's specific contributions to his hometown of Las Matas de Santa Cruz include donating a police station, a fire station, and a new ambulance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he spearheaded a 400.00 K USD donation drive to help address food shortages, showcasing his proactive leadership in times of crisis. His profound dedication to his community and inspiring efforts have also motivated his teammates to become more involved in their own communities, illustrating his far-reaching positive influence.

6.3. Controversies and Criticisms

A significant controversy in Nelson Cruz's career stemmed from his involvement in the Biogenesis baseball scandal in 2013. He was linked to buying performance-enhancing drugs from the Miami-based clinic and subsequently received a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball. Cruz stated that his association with the clinic was due to an undiagnosed "serious gastrointestinal infection" he suffered in late 2011 and early 2012, which led him to seek alternative treatments. This suspension, along with the draft pick compensation attached to him, affected his free agency period after the 2013 season, making it challenging for him to secure a new contract. Despite this setback, Cruz managed to rebuild his reputation and continue his successful career, consistently demonstrating a strong commitment to the sport and his community in the years that followed.