Good news: A player who announced his retirement will have another opportunity to play for Seattle Mariners
Nelson Cruz, a slugger, signed a one-day contract with the Mariners on Thursday in order to retire with the team.
Cruz stated, “I have always identified myself with the Seattle Mariners,” as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today. I had no trouble playing the game when I was here.
From 2015 to 2018, Cruz, now 43, was a member of the Mariners, averaging 104 RBIs and 41 home runs per season. Cruz won two Silver Slugger Awards, was selected for three American League All-Star teams, and was voted MVP in three of his four seasons.
Cruz hit.284 with 347 runs, 95 doubles, 163 home runs, 414 RBIs, 245 walks, and a.908 OPS in four seasons with the Mariners. During that time, he hit the most home runs in Major League Baseball, with 163 hits.
Nelson Cruz wraps up a great career with Mariners, others
30 September 2018 Seattle, WA, USA At Safeco Field, right fielder Nelson Cruz (age 23) of the Seattle Mariners warms up before facing the Texas Rangers in the first inning.
Kathy Buchanan of USA TODAY Sports
Nelson Cruz made the decision to hang up his spikes after 19 seasons in Major League Baseball in 2023. However, Cruz quickly found his way back into Major League Baseball.
Nelson Cruz has joined the Dodgers as an advisor. It had been reported that both parties had been discussing a possible role for some time. Cruz will primarily serve Latin America as an employee of the Dodgers.
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Cruz should be familiar with the area because he is a native of the Dominican Republic. Building minor league systems now heavily relies on foreign scouting, with international bonus pool funds frequently coming from trades. MLB is full of international talent, from South America to even Japan.
The Dodgers may uncover some gems if they can expand their search for players outside of the country. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a slugger for the Toronto Blue Jays, was signed in 2015 as an international free agent. The popular MLB free agents will be in high demand from both fans and analysts. However, sometimes the secret to success might be identifying the ideal overseas prospect. Of course, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani are already two international superstars for the Dodgers.
During the course of his major league career, Cruz enjoyed great success. He hit in 2,055 games overall.274 with 1,325 RBI and 464 home runs. He was the ALCS MVP in the past, a seven-time All-Star, and a four-time Silver Slugger. Cruz was a player for the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and San Diego Padres in addition to the Mariners.
Cruz has been in the MLB for a long time, so he knows what it takes to be successful there. He is also aware of the struggles faced by Latin American baseball players who aspire to play in the major leagues. Cruz is no longer active, but the Dodgers still hope that his abilities will help the team succeed now and in the future.
