Nelson Cruz

American baseball star Nelson Cruz is a major force in the sport who assured his place in history when he hit 346 home runs during the 2010s, more than any other player. Since making his MLB debut in 2005, he has become a seven-time All-Star, won the Silver Slugger Award four times, been selected for the All-World Baseball Classic, and been named to the All-MLB first and second teams. He has won MVP awards and, for his tireless work off the pitch, humanitarian awards. If ever the term “baseball legend” applied to anyone, it’s Nelson Cruz.

Nelson Ramon Cruz Martinez was born in the Dominican Republic in 1980. He would later represent the country of his birth at the 2013 World Baseball Classic, helping them to win the tournament, beating Puerto Rico in the final. Way before that, however, he got his first professional contract aged 18 when he was signed up by the New York Mets. Nothing ever really came of the signing, and he spent a few years perfecting his art in the Dominican Summer League. After signing for the Oakland Athletics, he spent a few more years in the minor leagues playing for various sides before getting his big break with the Milwaukee Brewers, who gave him his MLB debut in 2005.

Cruz’s career really took off when he joined the Texas Rangers in 2006. After a shaky start, he hit his stride and was soon setting new home-run records, a trait that would culminate in his 346 home-run record between 2010 and 2019. He also began referring to his baseball bat as a “boomstick”, a clear indication of how far he intended to hit the ball. Even at 40 years old, he is still playing and still commanding multi-million-dollar contracts, something only the most elite baseball players ever achieve.