Born in 1980, Nelson Cruz (43), the oldest active hitter in the major leagues, chose the San Diego Padres instead of a team that offered more money.
On the 26th (hereinafter referred to as Korean time), the official website of Major League Baseball, ‘MLB.com’ reported an interview with Cruise. Cruise, who completed a physical examination in the Dominican Republic, officially announced a one-year, $1 million contract with San Diego on the 24th.
“I need a World Series championship title,” Cruz said. He has a better offer financially, but he wants to win before his career is over. San Diego is a team with a chance to win the World Series.”
San Diego lost 1-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series last year, and the World Series championship was thwarted. However, this winter, the free agent market boosted its power by acquiring giant shortstop Zander Bogarts, veteran infielder Matt Carpenter, and pitcher Seth Lugo. He is considered a strong candidate for the championship this year as well.
The addition of Cruz, who is worth using as a designated hitter resource, also adds more weight to San Diego’s chances of winning. He is expected to share the designated hitter spot with left-handed hitter Carpenter. Cruz said, “I have a role to play at the plate. 메이저놀이터 There is still something left to contribute in terms of performance. It was also a blow that I was offered a contract.”
Cruz, an outfielder from the Dominican Republic, made his debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005 and then went through the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, and Washington Nationals. He played an active part with 1302 home runs and .859 OPS. He is a 7-time All-Star and 4-time Silver Slugger.
In 2013, he had a dark history of being suspended for 50 games due to a drug discovery, but the following year he won the American League home run king (40) in Baltimore. He has a long run as a big shot, having only four 40-home run seasons, with 44 in 2015, 43 in 2016, and 41 in 2019, but last year, he had a batting average of 2.3 and 4 in 124 games for Washington, with 105 hits, 10 home runs, 64 RBIs, and an OPS of .651. was sluggish with
Cruz said, “I had a problem with my left eye for a little over a year (last October) and had surgery. It will look good now,” he said confidently. “It will help San Diego achieve its championship goal.” Attention is focusing on whether Cruz, who made it to the World Series for two consecutive years in Texas in 2010-2011, but swallowed regret as runner-up, will reap the victory in San Diego.