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Nelson Cruz News & Rumors

Cruz has 8 RBIs, Rangers roll
May 26
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The hits kept coming Friday night for the Texas Rangers, and especially for Nelson Cruz. The right fielder had four hits, including a grand slam that gave him a career-high-tying eight RBIs. It was one of those nights for the Rangers' offense, which produced a double-digit run total for the ninth time this season. But the key moment for the offense might have been its first. Ian Kinsler worked Brandon Morrow for 13 pitches before taking a walk, and the Rangers would score six times in the first on their way to a 14-3 cakewalk over Toronto in the opener of a three-game series. The outburst from a struggling group of hitters provided plenty of support for Derek Holland, who allowed two runs"
Nelson Cruz left Saturday's game with tightness in right quad
May 20
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz left Saturday's game against the Houston Astros with tightness in his right quad. Cruz said it isn't anything serious, and he expects to play on Sunday. Cruz said he's been playing with the tightness for the past three games, and there wasn't a specific incident that triggered it to act up on Saturday. "Just tightness, nothing big," Cruz said."
Cruz comes alive as some Rangers hitters go cold
May 15
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Nelson Cruz is no longer a sight for the sore eyes of opposing pitchers, who day after day are confronted with a Rangers lineup that hits the baseball better than anybody in the league. The Rangers' right fielder hit his second home run in as many games Tuesday against Kansas City, continuing a surge that has resulted in a boost to his batting average, power numbers and, perhaps most importantly, his confidence. Though he also struck out three times, Cruz is in the midst of a 15-game stretch in which he is hitting .323 and is among the league leaders in hits and runs over the same period."
Rangers' Ron Washington could give slumping Nelson Cruz a day off
May 7
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Rangers would like to give Nelson Cruz a day off to clear his mind and maybe refresh his bat. They may finally get the opportunity on Monday. After watching Cruz's slump deepen Sunday, manager Ron Washington acknowledged the possibility if Adrian Beltre returns to the lineup. Washington, however, also noted that Baltimore is starting a left-hander in Brian Matusz, which may force him to wait another day. Cruz is 4-for-7 with a homer against Matusz in his career."
Nelson Cruz has leg up on start of spring training
February 25
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"If Nelson Cruz plays in 155 games, Ron Washington sees an MVP-type season. But 128 games have been the most Cruz has played in any of his seven major league seasons. He has been hampered by hamstring injuries throughout his career, landing on the disabled list five times since the start of the 2010 season, and has never had a chance to put up gaudy numbers. Cruz spent the off-season in hopes of changing that and believes his hamstrings are better than ever at the start of spring training. "I think I have the right program now to make sure my hamstrings are healthy," Cruz said. "I feel my hamstrings are strong and flexible. I don't know the last time they felt this way. I've just got to go"
Rangers' Cruz can earn additonal $625,000 in incentives for 2013
February 15
Dallas Morning News
 
"Nelson Cruz's $16 million, two-year contract with the Texas Rangers calls for the AL championship series MVP to receive a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $5 million this year and $10.5 million in 2013. Under the agreement announced Friday, Cruz's 2013 salary can rise by an additional $500,000 based on plate appearances in 2012: $100,000 each for 500, 525, 550, 575 and 600."
Rangers sign Cruz to two-year deal
February 9
Foxsports.com
 
"The Rangers eliminated another of their arbitration cases on Thursday, signing right fielder Nelson Cruz to a two-year, $16 million contract, according to a major-league source. Cruz, 31, asked for $7.5 million in arbitration; the Rangers offered $5.5 million. His new deal covers his final two years of arbitration. After that, he is eligible for free agency."
Source: Rangers, Cruz close on two-year deal
February 9
Dallas Morning News
 
"SS Elvis Andrus may not be the only Ranger to get a multi-year contract this week. According to a major league source, the club is close with OF Nelson Cruz on a two-year deal that would eliminate his scheduled arbitration hearing next week. The 2-year deal with Cruz, who is seeking $7.5 million via arbitration, would allow the Rangers to avoid an arbitration hearing with him again next winter. The Rangers offered Cruz $5.5 million this year, making the midpoint between the two offers $6.5 million. With a signing bonus, Andrus received the exact midpoint ($3.125 million) for 2012."
Nelson Cruz: 'I want to be a Ranger for life'
February 1
Dallas Morning News
 
"Nelson Cruz and the Rangers have a little less than three weeks to hammer out a one-year deal ahead of Cruz's February 17 arbitration hearing. It seems that both sides would prefer to bridge the gap between the $7.5 million figure Cruz asked for and the $5.5 million the Rangers offered, rather than leaving it to an arbiter to decide. "We are exchanging numbers, negotiating for a year and leaving the doors open for a multi-year contract," Cruz told Enrique Rojas of the Spanish-language site ESPN Deportes Los Angeles."
Nelson Cruz focusing on health, won't play in Dominican League
December 22
Dallas Morning News
 
"Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz is feeling good about his troublesome legs, but he will take the careful route leading up to spring training and not play in the Dominican Republic Winter League. The Cibao Gigantes recently raised the possibility of Cruz joining the club for the regular season and playoffs, if it qualified. Cruz assured the Rangers on Wednesday that while his off-season workouts are going well, he has no intention of playing."
Cruz, Napoli in Rangers' lineup for Game 7
October 28
MLB.com
 
"Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli are in the Rangers' lineup Friday for Game 7 despite both having suffered injuries on Thursday in Game 6. Cruz, who exited Thursday's game with a strained left groin muscle, will test it during batting practice to make sure it is good to go. After that, the Rangers will know for sure if he is able to play right field. If not, the Rangers will change the lineup and likely insert Endy Chavez."
Mike Napoli's ankle fine; Nelson Cruz's groin is more of question
October 28
Dallas Morning News
 
"Manager Ron Washington said that catcher Mike Napoli is "fine" after rolling his ankle at second base on a slide early in the game, but was uncertain about Nelson Cruz's availability for Game 7 late Thursday after he strained his groin muscle. "Well, Napoli is fine," Washington said. "Cruz sort of hurt his groin a little bit and I didn't want to take the chance and run him back out there. I haven't heard anything from the medical department as to the seriousness of it, but we'll just have to wait and see how everything is [Friday].""
Ron Washington claims moving Nelson Cruz up to sixth in the lineup was a 'protection issue'
October 20
Dallas Morning News
 
"While Nelson Cruz bashed his way to the ALCS Most Valuable Player trophy in the seventh spot, manager Ron Washington was constantly questioned about why he didn't move the slugger up in the order. On Wednesday, he moved Cruz up. And got questions about that, too. "Moving him up was a protection issue," said Washington, who switched Cruz and catcher Mike Napoli. "Everyone made a big deal out of Cruz hitting seventh, but Cruz ended up hitting seventh simply because when Cruz came back, my Nos. 1 through 6 were doing the job. But now he's found his stroke and I feel like we need to protect him. Mike Napoli is great protection.""
Rangers Nelson Cruz, ALCS MVP, originally signed by NY Mets, traded away for spare part
October 18
New York Daily News
 
"When Mets scout Eddy Toledo first laid eyes on Nelson Cruz back in the late 1990s, Cruz was a big kid who couldn't hit for power, a raw teenager who preferred basketball to baseball, even playing hoops for the Dominican Republic's Junior National Team. "Eddy did a great job," recalls Omar Minaya, the Mets' assistant general manager at the time. "Nelson was just a big kid who was a good athlete and at the time we were trying to upgrade the athleticism - the next year we signed Jose Reyes. Nelson was going to take some time to develop. He didn't hit for power, he had to learn to swing and he used to swing and miss a lot.""
Cruz's six homers net ALCS MVP honors
October 16
MLB.com
 
"Nelson Cruz came into the American League Championship Series riding a late-season slump and representing a major question mark in the Rangers' postseason hopes. He departs carrying the ALCS Most Valuable Player trophy and a new record for the most home runs in a postseason series with six after slugging another round-tripper in Saturday's clinching 15-5 blowout win for Texas in Game 6. The previous record for home runs in a postseason series was five. Reggie Jackson (1977) and Chase Utley (2009) hit five in the World Series, while Ken Griffey Jr. (1995) and Juan Gonzalez (1996) pulled the feat in Division Series play."
Cruz's boomstick has Rangers back to finish the job
October 16
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"His name is Cruz. He hits missiles. When all was said and done, when the last phone rang in the bullpen, Nelson Cruz reminded us Saturday night what this Texas Rangers team is all about. They bash the baseball. They light up a scoreboard. From the hollow, nearly hitless November night last year when they were eliminated, this team was consumed by its drive to get back to the World Series. The final step, as it turned out, was an easy one. They hitched their dream on the broad back -- and, yes, the Boomstick -- of Nelson Cruz."
Cruz, Napoli deliver as Rangers close in on return to World Series
October 13
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The game that didn't want to start Wednesday afternoon went deep into the night at Comerica Park, and no one seemed to mind one bit. But Game 4 of the American League Championship Series had to end eventually, and Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli made sure that it ended with a Texas Rangers victory. Now, the best-of-seven series is drawing toward an end. Cruz and Napoli made critical defensive plays late, and Cruz gave the Rangers ample cushion with a three-run homer after Napoli's go-ahead single in the 11th inning as the Rangers beat Detroit 7-3 in another thriller."
Cruz's grand slam in 11th keeps Rangers on Series course
October 11
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Their starting pitcher didn't give them much of a chance Monday afternoon, and the bottom of the order couldn't deliver when badly needed in a tight spot as evening arrived. A bullpen that has been terrific so far this postseason had to be run almost completely out of gas. The Texas Rangers, though, still had Nelson Cruz, who a week ago wouldn't have inspired much confidence at the plate. But the right fielder, who hit six homers in last year's run to the World Series, put his team within two victories of another Fall Classic. Cruz tied Game 2 of the American League Championship Series with a solo homer in the seventh, and won it with the first walk-off grand slam in postseason"
Nelson Cruz ready to return to the outfield on Friday
September 23
Dallas Morning News
 
"On Thursday, Cruz told manager Ron Washington that he was indeed ready to return to the outfield after managing the soreness in his hamstring for five games at DH. Cruz jogged quite slowly during most of the five-game period, but said he was simply being extra cautious with his injury. "Every time I've gotten hurt, it's been running the bases," said Cruz, who missed two weeks due to a hamstring strain. "I ran harder before the game the last two days. On some of those ground balls, with what they've told me, I don't need to run hard. But I am ready to go.""
Nelson Cruz may remain at DH through Oakland series; Moreland could get time off
September 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Rangers tentative plan once Nelson Cruz got back into the lineup Saturday was for him to play two games as the DH, then move to the outfield. There is a reason the plan was tentative. After watching Cruz move for one day, manager Ron Washington suggested it was quite possible he might push the outfield return back some. Cruz, who was 1-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts on Saturday, is hitting eighth today. Washington said Cruz was rusty in his first game back without the benefit of a rehab assignment. Washington said it maight take 10-12 at-bats before Cruz gets his timing back. Washington said Cruz might DH all the way through the Oakland series and not return to the outfield until the"
Nelson Cruz out about three weeks; Leonys Martin might get look
August 29
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Texas Rangers learned today that outfielder Nelson Cruz will miss about three weeks because of a strained left hamstring. Team physician Dr. Keith Meister made the prognosis after reviews the results of tests that Cruz underwent. To help the healing process, Meister gave Cruz an injection of platelet-rich plasma. The Rangers did not make a roster move with Cruz, but general manager Jon Daniels said he expects to put him on the disabled list before Tuesday's series opener against Tampa Bay. Outifelder Leonys Martin, the Cuban defector, would join the club from Triple-A Round Rock."
Ranger OF Nelson Cruz leaves Sunday's game with hamstring injury
August 29
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Rangers will be without outfielder Nelson Cruz for an undetermined period after he strained a left hamstring running out a double in the sixth inning. The Rangers expect to have a clearer idea of Cruz' status after he undergoes tests Monday. Third baseman Adrian Beltre has been out for six weeks because of what the club called a strained left hamstring. "It's a hamstring, and hamstrings usually mean time," manager Ron Washington said. Cruz has a history of leg ailments. He missed 17 games in May because of a strained right quadriceps. The injury came with Cruz on the verge of one of his intermittent hot streaks. He has eight hits, four for extra bases, in his last 12 at-bats. If Cruz"
Nelson Cruz could play through quad tightness Tuesday
August 16
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Right fielder Nelson Cruz said that he could be in the Rangers' lineup Tuesday against the Angels after leaving Monday's game in the seventh inning with tightness in his left quadriceps. It's the second time in three weeks that Cruz has felt discomfort in the muscle, but this instance is not as severe as the intial flare up at the end of July at Toronto. He said that he felt the tightness Monday while wearing a sleeve over his thigh but was unable to pinpoint the area of discomfort after the sleeve was removed."
Cruz not concerned with quad flare-up
August 16
MLB.com
 
"Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz was removed from Monday's game against the Angels with tightness in his left quad muscle. Cruz left the game in the seventh inning, but the situation is not considered serious. Cruz wears a sleeve on his legs to protect against these problems. He felt the muscle tighten while running before the game and finally decided to come out with his team leading, 8-2. When he took the sleeve off in the training room, he couldn't feel the tightness anymore. "They did a lot of tests after I came out and I didn't feel anything," Cruz said. "But we were up six runs and I didn't think the team needed me. I felt it, so I wanted to be cautious.""
Rangers thump Jays 12-2 as Cruz tallies eight RBIs
July 23
Toronto Star
 
"It was a promising start for the Blue Jays' Jo-Jo Reyes – a one-two-three first inning Friday night against a potent Texas Rangers lineup. The left-hander got ahead in the count. He kept the ball down. He induced groundballs. But that was as good as it got. The Rangers, who came into the game ranked second behind the Boston Red Sox in American League batting, showed why, pounding out 13 hits in a 12-2 victory. "You leave some pitches up to those guys and you know they're going to hurt you," said Reyes, who gave up eight runs, all earned, in 4.1 innings. "They're not just a Joe Shmoe team. They're a good team. They've been on a roll," said Reyes, who is 0-1 with a 10.29 ERA against the"
Texas Rangers give Nelson Cruz unwelcome day off
July 21
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Nelson Cruz doesn't like taking days off, so he wasn't the happiest guy in the Texas Rangers' clubhouse Wednesday afternoon. The right fielder was not in the lineup for the second of three games against the Los Angeles Angels after manager Ron Washington decided that Cruz just needed a day. That usually means that Washington wants to give a player who is slumping a chance to watch a game and recharge his mind. And Cruz is slumping at .162 (6 for 37) in his past 10 games. He went 0 for 5 on Tuesday and was the only Rangers player who failed to reach base in a 7-0 victory, their 12th straight. Cruz called it simply a bad game in which he got pitches to hit but didn't do anything with them."
Slumping Cruz unhappy with decision to give him day off
July 21
Dallas Morning News
 
"Outfielder Nelson Cruz, the one Rangers hitter who seems to have stumbled out of the second-half gate, got a day offWednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. "I just thought he needed it," manager Ron Washington said. "There are some times when it looks like he's just trying to do too much. He's experiencing a little adversity now that will make him a better player. And it gives me a chance to get David Murphy in the lineup." And as things go when a team is playing well, the Murphy move paid some quick dividends. Murphy, who entered the game 4-for-12 against Angels starter Dan Haren, hit a two-run homer in the fourth that gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead."
Rangers' outfield built more like a linebacker corps
June 19
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"When Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz banged into each other Friday night in left-center field, Mitch Moreland had the same thought as everyone else. "I was hoping they didn't get hurt," he said. But Moreland also had another thought, that the Rangers' outfield is the heaviest in baseball when he, Cruz and Hamilton are in there together. And, according to a quick glance at the other 29 MLB outfields, he's right. Cruz currently checks in as the lightest of the three, weighing around 235 pounds. Hamilton carries 240 pounds, and Moreland checks in at a sturdy 245. A Cruz-Hamilton collision sounds like trouble for the Rangers' two most frequent guests on the disabled list."
Hamilton, Cruz return to Rangers lineup with a bang
May 24
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"About the only thing that could have made the Monday night more perfect for Texas would have been if former President George W. Bush would have come up with a foul ball that landed in the owner's seats in the sixth inning. That catch would have completed a perfectly scripted night in which Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz homered in their return to the lineup, and Alexi Ogando shut out Chicago in a 4-0 Rangers' victory. The buzz before the game was the return of both sluggers from the disabled list. They didn't disappoint, as Hamilton homered to right in the first to give the Rangers the only run they needed. Not to be outdone, Cruz made it a 3-0 Rangers lead in the sixth with a long homer to"
Hamilton, Cruz expected to rejoin Rangers tonight
May 23
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"It appears that help is on the way for an anemic Texas Rangers offense. Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz on Sunday breezed through what was the final game of rehab assignments for Triple A Round Rock. Hamilton, who has been the designated hitter in five minor league games, went 0 for 4 in a 15-10 Express loss to Colorado Springs. Cruz, who has been rehabbing for six games, played right field and was 1 for 3 with a home run. Best of all, both players said they felt fine and are expected to join the Rangers tonight when they open a series at home against the Chicago White Sox. The timing for their returns couldn't be better. Since Hamilton went down April 12 in Detroit, the Rangers are 15-21."
Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton have full game on final day of rehab
May 23
Dallas Morning News
 
"Texas Rangers outfielders Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton completed their minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignments on Sunday by going the distance in Triple-A Round Rock's 17-10 loss to Colorado Springs. Each player had five plate appearances in the game that lasted three hours and 24 minutes. Cruz, who has been on the disabled list because of a strained quadriceps muscle, also played the full game in right field. He was on his feet for the entire ninth innings, when Colorado Springs scored eight runs against three Round Rock pitchers. "I felt like I was standing out there forever," Cruz said of the final inning. "That tested my legs. I felt good." Cruz homered for the third"
Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton to return to Rangers' lineup Monday
May 23
Dallas Morning News
 
"Texas Rangers outfielders Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton completed their minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignments on Sunday by going the distance in Triple-A Round Rock's 17-10 loss to Colorado Springs. Each player had five plate appearances in the game that lasted three hours and 24 minutes. Cruz, who has been on the disabled list because of a strained quadriceps muscle, also played the full game in right field. He was on his feet for the entire ninth innings, when Colorado Springs scored eight runs against three Round Rock pitchers. "I felt like I was standing out there forever," Cruz said of the final inning. "That tested my legs. I felt good." Cruz homered for the third"
Happy birthday, Josh Hamilton: He homers; Nelson Cruz does, too; returns in sight
May 22
Dallas Morning News
 
"Josh Hamilton, on rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock, celebrated his 30th birthday with a three-run home run to right field in the third to give the Express a 3-2 lead over Colorado Springs. Serving as the designated hitter, Hamilton went 1-for-3 with a walk."
Hamilton, Cruz likely for Rangers on Monday
May 22
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Barring any setbacks with their injuries or any travel problems or a can't-miss sale at the Round Rock outlet mall, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz will be activated from the 15-day disabled list Monday and be in the Rangers' lineup against Chicago. "If they make it out of Round Rock tonight and they show up at the ballpark tomorrow ... damn right, they're going to be in that lineup," manager Ron Washington said."
Healthy pieces bring more puzzles for Rangers manager
May 22
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The good news for manager Ron Washington is that he will soon have Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz to stick back in the Texas Rangers' lineup. With their returns from the disabled list looming, perhaps as soon as Monday, Washington has been trying to sort out how the Rangers' lineup will shake out. He has played around with it some, he said Saturday. Michael Young, for instance, won't be the designated hitter until the Rangers feel comfortable with sticking Hamilton back in the outfield. Mitch Moreland's bat will be in the mix, though he will likely have to play right field to get most of his at-bats if Young is at first base. That means that Cruz, a right fielder, will have to play some in"
Nelson Cruz could begin rehab assignment early in the week
May 14
Dallas Morning News
 
"Rangers manager Ron Washington said Friday that the team plans to test Nelson Cruz's quadriceps by "running him heavy" this weekend. That could be the precursor to going on a rehab assignment early in the week. Washington, however, indicated that he expected Cruz to be on a rehab assignment longer than in the recent past. Washington said he wanted Cruz to play five games on rehab. Last year, Cruz never spent more than three games on any rehab assignment. In 2009, he spent three games on a rehab assignment, also. Cruz, who is eligible to come off the DL on Thursday, has struggled with his timing since a very hot start. Since hitting home runs in each of the club's first four games, Cruz is"
Rangers' Nelson Cruz goes on DL again with leg injury
May 8
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"An offense that is seeking a cure to its woes had one of its key contributors visit the team doctor Saturday morning, and the doctor didn't order anything good. An MRI exam revealed a strain in Nelson Cruz's right quadriceps muscle, and the Texas Rangers' right fielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the second of three games against New York. The move is retroactive to Wednesday, the day after Cruz was forced to leave a game in Seattle after experiencing tightness while chasing down a sixth-inning fly ball. Though Cruz said that his leg was pain-free Friday, the Rangers opted for the DL rather than risk Cruz suffering a more severe injury while trying to play through a minor"
Cruz will sit at least until Saturday
May 6
MLB.com
 
"Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz continues to show improvement with his strained right quad muscle but was out of the lineup for the second straight game on Thursday. He will likely not play on Friday against the Yankees. Manager Ron Washington's two biggest concerns were the weather in Seattle and the overnight travel back to Texas. The temperature was at 57 degrees and dropping when the Rangers went out for batting practice on Thursday. After the game, the Rangers were looking at a long overnight flight back to Texas. "It's getting better but he was not going to play today," Washington said. "That was already determined. I'm not putting him out there in that cold. And I'm certainly not"
Sore leg keeps Cruz on bench in Seattle
May 5
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Nelson Cruz was held out of the lineup Wednesday but isn't expected to land on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his right quadriceps muscle. The right fielder had to leave after six innings of the Rangers' 4-3 loss to Seattle on Tuesday night. He experienced the tightness in the fourth inning while running out a grounder and again while running down a fly ball in the sixth. Cruz received treatment after leaving the game and again Wednesday, and said the leg felt better. He ran through some agility drills, hit in the cage and took part in the normal pregame drills. "I know this is tightness and right away after treatment felt better," said Cruz, who went on the DL three times last"
Nelson Cruz improving, but Rangers not sure he can avoid DL
May 5
Dallas Morning News
 
"Outfielder Nelson Cruz said he saw consistent and significant improvement in his tight right quadriceps muscle after coming out of Tuesday's game, but it's still too early to determine if he can avoid a trip to the disabled list. The Rangers are in a delicate position with Cruz. They intend to proceed with caution, but are also already lacking some offensive firepower because of the absence of Josh Hamilton. A year ago, Cruz tried to avoid the DL by resting off and on for a week while dealing with an early season hamstring strain. Not only did he still eventually land on the DL, but he also ended up being assigned there three times with recurring hamstring issues."
Nelson Cruz on another injury: "I just want to perform"
May 4
Dallas Morning News
 
"Having left another game with another leg injury, Nelson Cruz held off on saying he was frustrated. At least for now. Cruz, who had three DL stints last year with hamstring strains, left Tuesday's game againt Seattle with a tight right quadriceps. He will be re-evaluated on Wednesday, but said he was optimistic it won't cause him to miss long-term time in the lineup. Cruz said he felt like he stretched the quad "pretty good" while running out a grounder in the fourth inning and turning it into a close play at first. He felt it again in the outfield."
Nelson Cruz playing his way out of hitting slump for Texas Rangers
April 27
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Nelson Cruz and Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington have faith that the outfielder is on his way out of his April hitting funk. Cruz came into Tuesday's game hitting just .231 on the homestand and had struck out 17 times in the past 12 games. But Cruz also ended his 13-game homerless streak Monday night and had a hit in each of his past four games before going 0 for 2 Tuesday. "I'm taking more pitches and I'm getting my timing back," Cruz said. "I was missing fastballs. That's usually what I hit and they've been throwing me fastballs in hitter's counts, and I've been fouling them off or swinging and missing. I've got my timing back, and I'm trying to get on top of the ball more." Cruz"
Nelson Cruz matches Willie Mays, Mark McGwire for homers to start year
April 5
Dallas Morning News
 
"Nelson Cruz homered with one out in the fourth inning Monday extending his streak of games with a homer to all four this season. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Cruz became the third player since 1919 to homer in his team's first four games. He joined Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998) as the only players to turn the trick. No player, at least as far back as 1919 when the stat was first tracked, has ever homered in his first give games."
Kinsler, Cruz make home run history
April 4
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz are now linked together in major-league history, but Kinsler knows after Sunday he's not in Cruz's class. Not after Cruz hit his mammoth homer in the seventh inning off Boston's Clay Buchholz. That homer to right center allowed Kinsler and Cruz to become the first teammates in history to each homer in the first three games of the season. The blast also traveled 424 feet, and Cruz is just the second right-handed hitter in Rangers Ballpark history to reach the upper deck in right field. "I've never seen anything like that, never," Kinsler said. "That's pretty impressive, and it was a line driver. He's a strong dude. He's a really strong dude.""
Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz set major league record
April 4
Dallas Morning News
 
"Ian Kinsler homered in his second plate appearance on Sunday to become only the second Ranger to ever homer in the first three games of the season. When Nelson Cruz matched it in the seventh inning, the duo became the first pair of teammates to both homer in ta team's first three games. Kinsler, who had homered to start the first in his first two games to become the first player to ever do that to start a season, walked in his first plate appearance Sunday. In the third, an inning after David Murphy had given the Rangers the lead with his first homer, Kinsler made it 2-0."
Struggling Nelson Cruz dropped to sixth in Rangers batting order
March 15
Dallas Morning News
 
"Manager Ron Washington dropped Nelson Cruz to sixth in Monday's batting order because the right fielder hasn't found his stroke yet. Cruz believes the time is coming after starting camp 4-for-30 (.133 average). Cruz said he noticed a flaw when watching his swing on video. He said it was preventing him from keeping his weight back on his swing. Rangers batting coach Thad Bosley, who monitored Cruz's batting practice Monday, liked what he saw. He said Cruz has one of the best swings in baseball when he's on his game."
Why Nelson Cruz will lead the AL in home runs
February 27
Dallas Morning News
 
"It happens every year. You come to spring training. You peer intently as pitchers sprint to first base to catch tosses from fielders and you hone in on a guy's stance at the plate, trying to determine if he's changed his hands or moved closer to or farther from the plate. You listen for the sound the ball makes coming off the bat. After about an hour of that, you get outrageously bored. That's when you try to be brilliant, taking preposterously wild guesses — disguised as informed predictions — about things a team that hasn't played a game yet might accomplish in the coming season. And with that little preamble, I give you this: Nelson Cruz will be the AL's home run champion in 2011. "That"
Nelson Cruz's reputation as Mr. Clutch carries over into playoffs
October 27
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz isn't going to take away the title of Mr. October from Reggie Jackson anytime soon.But he has evolved into the Rangers' Mr. Clutch during their magical run to the World Series.It's not by accident and it's not anything new to anyone who has followed Cruz's career."I saw Nellie when I was in Triple A; he was in the Milwaukee organization," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "We played them in the playoffs, and from what I can remember he beat us singlehandedly. He was hitting the balls over the fence, doubles, triples, whatever he really needed. It's crazy to see him finally fulfill the expectations he's always had."Cruz was clutch throughout the season,"
Rangers reach first World Series, end Yankees reign
October 23
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"High above Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, on a night when rain threatened to spoil the biggest night in Texas Rangers history, a breeze from the south blew steadily. The flags atop the home-run porch in right field were waving proudly late Friday, including the rookie of the bunch. It reads: 2010 American League Champions. The Rangers will play in the World Series for the first time in franchise history after closing out the AL Championship Series in Game 6 on Friday night with a 6-1 victory over the mighty New York Yankees. Colby Lewis allowed only a run on three hits in eight innings, and Vladimir Guerrero and Nelson Cruz came up big with two outs in a four-run fifth to help the Rangers"