Nelson Cruz has announced his retirement from baseball, via The Adam Jones Podcast

Nelson Cruz retires: Veteran slugger calls it a career after 19 MLB seasons, 464 home runs

Cruz leaves the game as one of the top home run hitters of his era

Veteran slugger Nelson Cruz has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after an illustrious career spanning 19 seasons. Cruz revealed his decision during an appearance on former teammate Adam Jones’ podcast.

During his time in the MLB, Cruz played for several teams, including the Brewers, Rangers, Orioles, Mariners, Twins, Rays, Nationals, and most recently, the Padres. Over the course of nearly two decades, Cruz amassed impressive statistics, including 464 home runs, an OPS+ of 130, over 2,000 hits, 1,325 RBI, 1,090 runs scored, and 3,847 total bases. He was also selected to the All-Star Game seven times and received four Silver Slugger awards. Additionally, Cruz finished in the top 10 of MVP voting on five different occasions. While his career WAR of 42.2 falls short of Hall of Fame standards, it is indicative of a highly successful career.

One particular moment that stands out in Cruz’s career is his outfield misplay during the 2011 World Series while playing for the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers on the brink of winning the championship, Cruz’s misjudgment of a hit allowed the opposing team to tie the game. The Texas Rangers went on to lose the series, but this one unfortunate play does not overshadow Cruz’s overall achievements.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Cruz’s career is how he defied the traditional aging curve in the latter half of his playing days. After leaving the Rangers as a free agent following the 2013 season, Cruz faced skepticism from the market and did not sign a contract until late February, eventually joining the Baltimore Orioles on a modest one-year, $8 million deal.

However, over the next eight seasons, including his age-40 campaign, Cruz continued to excel, hitting 292 home runs and maintaining an OPS+ of 147. At an age when most players retire, Cruz produced some of his best seasons. In recent years, his performance declined, leading to his decision to retire.

Nelson Cruz leaves behind a legacy as one of the most feared sluggers of his era and serves as a reminder that great players do not always follow a linear or expected trajectory. In fact, some players, like Cruz, even reach new heights late in their careers.