After a remarkable 19-year career that included 464 home runs and stints with eight different teams, Nelson Cruz has decided to retire from professional baseball. He made this announcement on the Adam Jones podcast and reaffirmed his intention during an interview with Alanna Rizzo on MLB Network"s High Heat.
In his conversation with Rizzo, the 43-year-old Cruz expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunities he had in the United States, saying, “I understand I owe so much to this country…I love my country. I knew early in the [2023 season] that this is going to be it." Although his final season didn"t conclude the way he had hoped, he remains profoundly grateful for the game and the various organizations that allowed him to become the person he is today.
"I understand I owe so much to this country…I love my country." 🇩🇴
Nelson Cruz is calling it a career after 19 seasons, but not before his farewell tour in the Dominican Republic this winter!@alannarizzo | @MLBDominicana | @LasMayores pic.twitter.com/dplO6UZwWM
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 3, 2023
Cruz began his MLB journey in September 2005 with a brief stint with the Milwaukee Brewers before being traded to the Texas Rangers in July 2006. He spent eight productive years with the Rangers, earning two American League All-Star selections while hitting 157 home runs and driving in 489 runs. His standout season with the Rangers was in 2011, when he recorded a .263/.312/.509 slash line, 29 home runs, and 87 RBIs.
One of his most memorable moments with the Rangers was during the 2011 AL Championship Series, where Cruz was named MVP after smashing six home runs in a six-game series victory over the Detroit Tigers. He etched his name in history by hitting a walk-off grand slam in Game 2, which remains the only walk-off grand slam in MLB postseason history. While that Rangers team fell short in the World Series against the Cardinals, Cruz later had the chance to witness his former club secure its first World Series championship.
Following his time with the Rangers, Cruz signed with the Baltimore Orioles, where he led the MLB with 40 home runs in 2014 and played a pivotal role in the team"s surprising run to the ALCS. This marked the start of six seasons in which Cruz received MVP votes. His career continued with the Seattle Mariners for four seasons and a brief stint with the Minnesota Twins before he played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, and San Diego Padres in his final 2 1/2 seasons.
Cruz achieved a significant milestone on September 22, 2019, when he became the 22nd member of the 400-home run club while playing for the Twins. He also won four Silver Slugger Awards and, at the age of 41, became the oldest player to hit 30 home runs in a season in 2021, finishing with a total of 32 home runs between his time with Minnesota and Tampa Bay.
In addition to his on-field achievements, Cruz was recognized off the field as well. He was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award in 2021 and represented the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on four different occasions.
