Jose Cruz Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for several teams during his career. He was born on April 19, 1974, in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, and was the son of former MLB player Jose Cruz.
Cruz Jr. attended Rice University, where he played college baseball and was named the Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1995. He was then drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 1995 MLB draft.
Cruz Jr. made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 1997 and played with the team until 2000. He then played for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Houston Astros.
Throughout his career, Cruz Jr. was known for his power hitting and speed on the basepaths. He hit a career-high 34 home runs in 2001 while playing for the Blue Jays and stole a career-high 32 bases in 2003 while playing for the Giants.
Cruz Jr. was also a solid defensive outfielder, winning a Gold Glove award in 2003 while playing for the Giants. He was known for his ability to cover a lot of ground in the outfield and make spectacular catches.
Despite his success on the field, Cruz Jr. struggled with injuries throughout his career. He missed significant time in 2004 and 2005 due to knee injuries and was limited to just 96 games in 2007 due to a strained oblique muscle.
Cruz Jr. retired from baseball in 2008 after playing in parts of 12 seasons. He finished his career with a .247 batting average, 204 home runs, and 1,009 hits. He also stole 317 bases and had a career on-base percentage of .337.
After retiring from baseball, Cruz Jr. has worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN and MLB Network. He has also been involved in various charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Overall, Jose Cruz Jr. had a solid career in Major League Baseball, known for his power hitting, speed, and defensive abilities. Despite struggling with injuries throughout his career, he was able to play for several teams and make a significant impact on the field.
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