Major Leaguer resume Vol.104/ WBC Player’s resume Vol.99: Nelson Cruz(San Diego Padres) : Major Candidate for Team Dominican Republic: “459-HR Slugger!!”

■Today’s player
Today's player is the San Diego Padres veteran slugger Nelson Cruze. Cruz is a Dominican professional baseball player who plays as a designated hitter and outfielder for the Padres in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on July 1, 1980, in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, and will lead his own country's team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
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■The KAISPO's baseball analyst comments
"Cruz is a veteran power hitter with excellent batting records with 459 homers. Throughout his career, he has been known for his power hitting and consistently hitting more than 20 home runs each season and double-digit homers in 14 straight years since 2009. Cruz has been selected to the MLB All-Star Game seven times and has won four Silver Slugger Awards. Off the field, Cruz is known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in his home country of the Dominican Republic. Overall, Nelson Cruz is a highly accomplished and respected player in Major League Baseball."

■Story
The right-handed slugger signed with the New York Mets in 1998 to start his professional career in America. Cruz made his MLB debut in 2005 with the Milwaukee Brewers and has since played for several teams, including the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Minnesota Twins. Throughout his career, he has been known for his power hitting and consistently hitting more than 20 home runs each season and double-digit homers in 14 straight years since 2009.

Cruz has been selected to the MLB All-Star Game seven times and has won four Silver Slugger Awards. He has also been a key player in postseason play, helping lead his teams to multiple playoff appearances, including two World Series appearances with the Texas Rangers in 2010 and 2011.

Off the field, the 7-time All-Star is known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in his home country of the Dominican Republic, where he has established a charity organization called the Boomstick23 Foundation. The Foundation supports various initiatives to improve education, health, and the overall well-being of children in the Dominican Republic.

Overall, Nelson Cruz is a highly accomplished and respected player in Major League Baseball and a prominent figure both on and off the field. He will play for San Diego in 2023 and beyond.

■MLB Career Stats
At the end of the 2022 campaign, the 42-year-old has hit .274/.344/.515 with 459 homers and 1302 RBIs over 2006 games in his 17 big league seasons.
(MLB No.418 KAISPO No.1598)