| Nelson Cruz | |||||||||||||||
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 Cruz with the Seattle Mariners in 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Designated hitter /Right fielder | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1980-07-01)July 1, 1980 (age 45) Las Matas de Santa Cruz,Dominican Republic | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| September 17, 2005, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| July 3, 2023, for the San Diego Padres | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .274 | ||||||||||||||
| Hits | 2,053 | ||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 464 | ||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 1,325 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Nelson Ramón Cruz Martínez (born July 1, 1980), nicknamed "Boomstick", is a Dominican-American former professionalbaseballdesignated hitter andright fielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMilwaukee Brewers,Texas Rangers,Baltimore Orioles,Seattle Mariners,Minnesota Twins,Tampa Bay Rays,Washington Nationals, andSan Diego Padres. Cruz is a seven-timeMLB All-Star. Known for his power hitting, he won fourSilver Slugger Awards and twoEdgar Martínez Awards.
After signing with theNew York Mets organization in 1998, Cruz played his first major league game in 2005 with the Brewers. He had a breakthrough season in 2009, hitting 33 home runs for the Rangers. Cruz played for the Rangers in the World Series in 2010 and 2011 and was named theMost Valuable Player of the2011 American League (AL) Championship Series. On August 5, 2013, Cruz was suspended for 50 games by MLB for his involvement in theBiogenesis baseball scandal. In 2014, Cruz led MLB with 40 home runs as a member of the Orioles. He led the AL with 119 RBI in 2017 while playing for the Mariners. Cruz hit 346 home runs during the 2010s, the most hit by any player in that decade.
In 2020, based on his work in the community, Cruz was selected as theMarvin Miller Man of the Year and theMuhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award winner. He received theRoberto Clemente Award in 2021.
Cruz was born on July 1, 1980, inLas Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic. His father, Nelson Cruz Sr., also played professional baseball in the Dominican Republic.[1] Both his parents are educators[2] and they raised Cruz and his two sisters,Nelsy and Olga.[3] Growing up, Cruz's passion was for basketball, not baseball. His idol wasMichael Jordan[2] and as a teenager Cruz played for the Dominican Republic Junior National Basketball Team.[1] He attended the high school where his father taught history. In addition to playing sports, Cruz worked as a mechanic's helper with his uncle at a tractor factory. He also shined shoes and learned how to repair them.[3]
After several seasons in MLB, in September 2012, Cruz donated $20,000 to help buy a fire truck for Las Matas de Santa Cruz, enlistingAMR's help in also donating two ambulances.[4]
On February 17, 1998, Cruz signed with theNew York Mets organization as a non-drafted international free agent.[5] He played for three years in theDominican Summer League.[6]
On August 30, 2000, the Mets traded Cruz to theOakland Athletics in exchange forshortstopJorge Velandia, as starting shortstopRey Ordóñez was out with a broken arm, andMelvin Mora,Mike Bordick, andKurt Abbott proved unable to fill in.[7] Cruz spent the 2001 season with theAZL Athletics,slashing .250/.283/.409 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI in 23 games. The following season, he played for the Low-AVancouver Canadians, batting .276/.316/.397 with 4 home runs and 25 RBI. Cruz spent 2003 in Single-A with theKane County Cougars and hit .238/.292/.430 career-highs in home runs (20) and RBI (85). Cruz split the 2004 season between the High-AModesto A's, Double-AMidland RockHounds, and Triple-ASacramento River Cats and set new career-highs in home runs (26) and RBI (100), batting .326/.390/.562 in 137 games between the three teams.[6]
On December 16, 2004, Cruz was traded to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange forinfielderKeith Ginter.[8] Cruz was assigned to the Double-AHuntsville Stars to begin the 2005 season before receiving a promotion to the Triple-ANashville Sounds.
Cruz made his major league debut with the Brewers on September 17, 2005, as a late inning defensive replacement at right field wearing #8 against theHouston Astros. He had one hit in five at bats for the Brewers in limited action.[9] His first MLB hit was a double offAaron Harang of theCincinnati Reds on September 28.[10] Cruz returned to Nashville to begin the 2006 season and hit .302/.378/.528 in 102 games with the team.[6]
On July 28, 2006, the Brewers sent Cruz and outfielderCarlos Lee to theTexas Rangers in exchange forLaynce Nix,Kevin Mench,Francisco Cordero and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero. Cruz would wear #17 during his time with Texas. He hit his first career home run on July 31 againstWillie Eyre of theTwins. On August 16, Cruz hit the firstgrand slam of his career off ofKevin Gregg of theAngels. On September 4, 2006, against the Athletics, he hit aninside-the-park home run in which his bat broke on impact. Inspring training for the 2007 season, Cruz got off to a rough start, but finished strong by hitting threehome runs in the final week, including awalk-off home run in the final game of spring training.
Cruz failed to make the major leargue roster prior to the 2008 season and cleared waivers after beingdesignated for assignment because he had exhausted his minor league options. With the Triple-AOklahoma RedHawks, Cruz had a .341 batting average and had 37home runs and 100runs batted in (RBI); for his efforts, Cruz won thePacific Coast League MVP Award.[11] 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.[12] On August 25, the Rangers purchased Cruz's contract from the RedHawks.
Cruz had a breakthrough season in 2009.[13][14] In July, he was selected as an All-Star as a replacement for injuredTorii Hunter.[15] He also participated in theHome Run Derby, finishing second to Brewers first basemanPrince Fielder.[16] Cruz finished the season with 33 home runs.
Cruz and teammateIan Kinsler each hit three home runs in the2010 AL Division Series (ALDS) against the Tampa Bay Rays, marking only the second time in major league history that two teammates each hit three homers in a postseason series of five games or fewer (joiningBabe Ruth andLou Gehrig, who did it in the1928 World Series).[17] In Game 5 of theWorld Series against theSan Francisco Giants, Cruz hit a home run off ofTim Lincecum in the 7th inning. It was around this time that Cruz began to refer to his baseball bat as a "boomstick."
In 2011, Cruz and Ian Kinsler became the first two teammates in major league history to homer in each of the first three games in a season, joiningDean Palmer (1992) as the only Texas ballplayers to ever homer in the first three games of the season.[18] In his very next game, Cruz became the third player ever to homer in each of the first four games of the season, joiningWillie Mays andMark McGwire.[19] Cruz became the second hitter to hit a home run into the upper deck in right field as a right-handed batter in the history ofRangers Ballpark in Arlington. The other was hit by former RangerChad Curtis in 2000 season.[20] On July 22, he had 8 RBIs in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays; it was Cruz's career high in RBIs.[21] In 2011, Cruz batted .263 with 29 home runs.[22] He led AL right fielders inrange factor for the third straight year (2.29).[22]
On October 10, Cruz hit awalk-off grand slam in Game 2 of theAmerican League Championship Series (ALCS) versus the Detroit Tigers. He became the first player in baseball history to hit a walk-off grand slam in a postseason game.[23] Cruz hit a three-run home run to seal Game 4 of the ALCS for the Rangers against the Tigers. He became the first player to hit multiple extra-inning home runs in the same postseason series.[24] During the ALCS, Cruz hit six home runs and had 13 RBIs, both postseason series records at the time.[25][26] His efforts earned him theALCS MVP award.[27]
Cruz hit a solo home run to put the Rangers up 6–4 against theSt. Louis Cardinals in Game 6 of theWorld Series.[28] With that home run, Cruz tied the record for most postseason home runs in a season at 8; he shared the achievement withCarlos Beltrán andBarry Bonds beforeRandy Arozarena broke the record with 10 homers in 2020.[29] In the ninth inning, Cruz missed a fly ball that would have clinched the Rangers' first championship; instead, the Cardinals came back to win that game and Game 7 to win the World Series.[30][31][32]
In January 2013, Cruz was linked to buying performance-enhancing drugs from the Biogenesis clinic in Miami.[33] On August 5, 2013, MLB suspended Cruz for 50 games for his involvement in theBiogenesis scandal. Cruz accepted the suspension and said in a statement that from November 2011 to January 2012, he had an undiagnosed "serious gastrointestinal infection, helicobacter pylori," that went undiagnosed for over a month.[34][35] Tony Bosch, the head of Biogenesis, said he sold $4,000 of product to Cruz, whom he nicknamed "Mohamad." Cruz was one of 13 players who were disciplined for their connection to the anti-aging clinic.[33]
Cruz became afree agent following the 2013 season, turning down a $14 millionqualifying offer from the Rangers.[36] The fact that he had draft pick compensation attached to him and lingering concerns over his recent PED suspension made it difficult for him to find a new deal during the offseason.[37]
On February 24, 2014, Cruz signed a one-year, $8 million, contract with theBaltimore Orioles.[38] Cruz wore #23 with the Orioles and continued wearing 23 in his stops with theSeattle Mariners,Minnesota Twins, andTampa Bay Rays.[22]
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 (he was tagged out just short of third base), against the Red Sox.[39] He was elected into his thirdMLB All-Star Game, as adesignated hitter, for theAmerican League.[40] On September 7, in a game against theTampa 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. Cruz drove in all 7 runs the Orioles scored.[41] 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.
In the first game of theALDS, Cruz homered against theDetroit Tigers'Max Scherzer. It was his 15th home run in 35 career postseason games, tying Cruz for 10th place on the all-time postseason home run list withBabe Ruth.[42] In the third game of the ALDS, Cruz hit his 16th postseason home run against the Tigers'David Price, tying him for 9th place on the all-time postseason home run list withCarlos Beltrán.[43] Cruz elected free agency after rejecting the Orioles' qualifying offer of $15.3 million.[44]
On December 4, 2014, Cruz signed a four-year contract with theSeattle Mariners worth $57 million.[45]
Cruz was named the starting DH for the ALAll-Star team, marking the 4th time (3rd consecutive) that he was named an All-Star.[46] He went on to have arguably the best season of his career in 2015, hitting .302 with a career-high 44 home runs and 93 RBIs.[22] He also won his first careerSilver Slugger Award and finished sixth in theAmerican League MVP voting.[47]
In 2016, Cruz batted .287 with 43 home runs and 104 RBIs. While not an All-Star, he finished 15th in the AL MVP voting.[48] His batted balls had the fastest averageexit velocity of the season in the majors, at 94.4 miles per hour.[49]
Cruz was selected as anAll-Star in 2017 for the fifth time in his career.[50] On July 7, he hit his 300th career home run in a Mariners win over theOakland Athletics.[51] Cruz led the AL in RBIs with 119, and led the Mariners in home runs (39), runs scored (91), extra base hits (67), walks (70), OPS (.924),on-base percentage (OBP) (.375), and slugging percentage (.549). He won theEdgar Martínez Award as the best DH in the majors.[52]
Cruz was named to the2018 All-Star Game.[53] He batted .256 for the season, along with 37 home runs and 97 RBIs. He was the 8th-oldest player in the AL.[54] He became a free agent after the season.[55]
On January 2, 2019, Cruz signed a one-year contract with theMinnesota Twins worth $14.3 million. The contract also included a $12 million team option for the 2020 season.[56][57]
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On September 22, Cruz hit his 400th career home run and 40th home run of the season versus theKansas City Royals.[58] He batted .311/.392/.639 with 41 home runs and 108 RBI in 120 games on the season. He produced the highest hard-contact percentage of all major league batters, at 52.5%.[59] He was the fifth-oldest player in the American League. For first time in his MLB career, he did not play in the field; he played in 114 games as a DH and another six as a pinch hitter.[22] His 1.031 OPS matched the club record, and his home run and RBI totals set club records at DH. He ranked second in the AL in OPS and SLG, tied for third in home runs, placed sixth in batting, and seventh in RBI. He followedHank Aaron andBarry Bonds as the only players to hit 40 home runs in their age-39 season or after. These accomplishments helped net Cruz his third career Silver Slugger Award.[60] Cruz would also win the Edgar Martinez Award for the second time.
Cruz hit 346 home runs during the 2010s, which was the highest number of home runs hit by any player in that decade.[61]
The Twins picked up Cruz' option for2020, 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 in the shortened season. He doubled twice in a span of six at bats in a season-endingAL Wild Card Series loss to theHouston Astros.[62] 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.[63] He finished sixth in the AL MVP voting.[64] He became a free agent after the season.[62]
For his efforts assisting the community, Cruz was selected as theMarvin Miller Man of the Year by theMLB Players Association, as that player whom his peers deem earned "most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community," notably in his hometown of Las Matas de Santa Cruz. He also won theESPYsMuhammed Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in 2020. Cruz donated apolice station, a fire station, replaced an aging ambulance, and spearheaded a $400,000donation drive to help alleviate food shortages induced by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[65]
On February 10, 2021, Cruz signed a one-year, $13 million contract to stay with Minnesota for the 2021 season.[66] Cruz was named anAll-Star for the team in 2021, and hit .294/.370/.537 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI in 85 games. In 2021,The Athletic called Cruz "one of the game’s elite power hitters",[67] andCBS Sports described him as "a steady purveyor of elite power production."[68]
On July 22, 2021, Cruz was traded to theTampa Bay Rays alongsideCalvin Faucher in exchange forJoe Ryan andDrew Strotman.[69][70] His production dropped off with the Rays, batting .226/.283/.442 in 55 games.[22] In his final postseason, he homered in Game 1 of theALDS and batted 3-for-17 in the series, as the Rays lost to the Red Sox.[71]
On October 28, Cruz won theRoberto Clemente Award, again honoring his philanthropy and character. He had been nominated by his teams twice previously.[72]
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On March 13, 2022, Cruz signed a one-year, $12 million contract with a mutual option for 2023 with theWashington Nationals.[73] On August 15, Cruz went 2-for-4 against theChicago Cubs and recorded his 2,000th career MLB hit.[74]
Cruz ended the season batting .234/.313/.337 in 448 at bats with 10 home runs and 64 RBIs in 124 games at DH, grounding into 16 double plays (9th in the NL).[22] He was the oldestqualified batter in MLB.[75] On November 7, the Nationals declined their $16 million mutual option on Cruz, making him a free agent.[76][77]
On January 23, 2023, Cruz signed a one-year, $1 million contract with theSan Diego Padres.[78] He played in 49 games for the Padres, hitting .245/.283/.399 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI. Cruz wasdesignated for assignment by San Diego on July 4 and released on July 10.[79][80]
Cruz announced his retirement from baseball on November 2, 2023.[81] On Opening Day, March 28, 2024, he signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a Seattle Mariner.[82]
Cruz played for theDominican Republic national baseball team at the2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC),2013 WBC,2017 WBC, and2023 WBC.[83] In addition to playing in the 2023 WBC, he also served as the team’sgeneral manager.[84] He returned to the general manager role for the2026 WBC.[85][86] Cruz and the Dominican Republic won the 2013 tournament, and he was named to the 2013All-WBC team.[87]
On May 17, 2024,Major League Baseball hired Cruz as a special advisor for baseball operations, with the intent for Cruz to serve as a liaison for MLB on topics in Latin America.[88]
Cruz served as the third base coach for the American League team in the 2024All-Star Futures Game.[89]
Cruz has five children. He resides in his hometown of Las Matas De Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic.[90][91]
After the 2018 season, Cruz became an American citizen.[92][93]
On April 8, 2025, Cruz's sisterNelsy, the governor ofMonte Cristi Province in the Dominican Republic, died in theJet Set nightclub roof collapse.[94]
On August 10, 2025, Cruz served as the grand marshal "padrino" of the 43rdNational Dominican Day Parade in New York City.[95]
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