CRUZ, LUIS  
 
Image of    Nickname:   N/A Position:   SS-3B-OF
Home: Sonora, Mexico Team:   Retired
Height: 6' 1" Bats:   R
Weight: 200 Throws:   R
DOB: 2/10/1984 Agent: N/A
Birth City: Navojoa, Mexico Draft: 2000 - Red Sox - Free agent
Uniform #: N/A  
 
YR LEA TEAM SAL(K) G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO OBP SLG AVG
2002 SAL AUGUSTA   58 202 16 38 7 1 3 15 0   9 30     .188
2002 GCL Red Sox   21 72 10 21 4 0 0 9 2   3 6     .292
2003 MWL FT. WAYNE   129 481 55 111 24 1 8 53 2   30 55     .231
2004 CAL LAKE ELSINORE   124 512 75 142 35 3 8 72 3   24 56     .277
2005 MEX Mexico Cty Reds   61 226 29 64 15 3 4 23 4   10 26     .283
2005 SL MOBILE   44 151 14 24 2 1 3 6 0   9 31     .159
2006 SL MOBILE   130 499 65 130 35 3 12 65 8 4 29 62   .415 .261
2007 PCL PORTLAND   45 155 15 26 10 1 5 17 0 0 9 24 .216 .342 .168
2007 TL SAN ANTONIO   69 238 24 60 10 0 4 19 3 0 13 20 .293 .345 .252
2008 NL PIRATES   22 67 6 15 3 0 0 3 1 1 3 2 .278 .269 .224
2008 IL INDIANAPOLIS   32 120 19 39 10 0 3 15 2 4 3 14   .483 .325
2008 EL ALTOONA   105 375 41 99 24 1 6 46 3 3 19 34   .381 .264
2009 IL INDIANAPOLIS   66 229 28 58 15 0 3 23 3 3 6 26 .274 .358 .253
2009 NL PIRATES $402.00 27 70 5 15 1 0 0 2 0 0 6 7 .282 .229 .214
2010 PCL NASHVILLE   129 488 54 137 29 3 10 68 0 0 15 56 .309 .414 .281
2010 NL BREWERS   7 17 2 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 .235 .353 .235
2011 MEX Mexico City Red                                
2011 PCL ROUND ROCK   67 275 34 75 15 1 9 34 2 1 10 40 .301 .433 .273
2012 NL DODGERS   78 283 26 84 20 0 6 40 2 1 9 34 .322 .431 .297
2012 PCL ALBUQUERQUE   74 289 46 92 31 3 8 46 1 2 13 34 .348 .529 .318
2013 AL DODGERS $505.00 45 118 12 15 2 0 1 6 0 0 5 20 .175 .169 .127
2013 AL YANKEES   16 55 6 10 1 0 0 5 1 0 1 13 .224 .200 .182
2014 JAP Lotte $750.00                              

  • Cruz is the son of a Mexican League legend.

    Luis credits his Major League bat to an exaggerated open stance and leg kick that made his father, Luis Cruz Sr., famous in Mexico, where he played 16 seasons.

  • Before 2005 spring training, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Cruz as 27th-best prospect in the Padres organization. He wasn't ranked in 2006, but in the spring of 2007, they ranked Luis as #20 in the Padres farm system.

  • Luis plays the game with enthusiasm. And he has developed real good work habits.

    "I always play hard, give 100 percent because you never know who's watching," Cruz said. "This is a team game, but every player plays for himself, hoping that if he plays well, it not only helps him, but the team, too."

  • Cruz hit well during the off-season before 2007 spring training, hitting .286 with 23 RBIs while scoring 29 runs for Navojoa of the Mexican Pacific League in winter ball.

  • During the winter before 2011 spring training, Luis had a big winter-ball campaign for Culiacan of the Mexican Pacific League, batting .325/.364/.633 with 12 home runs in 166 at-bats.

  • March 31, 2009: Luis' grandmother died in Venezuela. When he found out he made the Pirates' Opening Day roster a few days later, the rush of emotions was visible.

    "I'm not sure how to feel right now," Cruz said. "But I know she would be very happy for me."

  • During the winter before 2012 spring training, Cruz hit .340/.360/.619 with 17 homers in 62 games in the Mexican Pacific League.

    TRANSACTIONS

  • August 29, 2000: Luis signed with Red Sox scouts Ray Poitevint and Lee Sigman, out of Mexico. Cruz was just 16 years old at the time.

  • December 2002: The Padres sent utilityman Cesar Crespo to the Red Sox, acquiring Cruz.

  • December 2007: Cruz signed with the Pirates organization.

  • December 7, 2009: The Brewers claimed Luis off waivers from the Pirates.

  • March 28, 2011: Cruz refused assignment to Triple-A by the Brewers and became a free agent.

    April 2, 2011: Luis signed with the Rangers organization.

  • June 20, 2011: The Astros loaned Cruz to the Mexican League.

  • November 2011: Luis signed with the Dodgers organization.

  • July 2, 2013: Cruz elected to become a free agent rather than be sent to Triple-A by the Dodgers.

    July 3, 2013: Luis signed with the Yankees.

    August 17, 2013: Cruz was released by the Yankees.

  • November 27, 2013: Luis signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League.

PERSONAL:
 

  • Cruz credits his Major League bat to an exaggerated open stance and leg kick that made his father, Luis Cruz Sr., famous in Mexico, where he played 16 seasons.

    "San Diego made me get rid of it, Pittsburgh the same thing. They spread me out and made me use my hands like a slap guy," Cruz said. "But I had a bad year in '09 and decided I had to change something. I went home and my dad said, 'You're a big boy. You can hit balls to the gap. You should go with the leg kick.'"

    • Cruz's unconventional hitting style begins with an open stance. As the pitch approaches, he swings his front leg toward the plate and lifts it as a timing mechanism to begin the bat swing.

    "My first time in the Major Leagues, when I was 24 and 25, I would just panic sometimes," he said near the end of the 2012 season. "Now I feel more experienced and just play the same game."

  • Luis needs to refine his plate discipline. He is a streaky hitter who struggles to hit good breaking pitches.
BATTING:
 

  • Luis is a very smooth-fielding shortstop with soft, quick hands, solid footwork and a very good arm. He has above average range. He makes playing shortstop look easy.

  • Cruz makes the double play well. And he can make the play from deep in the hole at shortstop.

  • He is a defensive standout at short, but can also play second base or even center field to fill a need.

  • Cruz has great hands.

  • Luis played some outfield during 2011 sprng training with the Brewers. He  has played all three outfield posts during winter ball in his native land, spending virtually every offseason in the Mexican Pacific League. He entered Brewers 2011 spring camp vying for a bench role, so the decision-makers wanted to gauge his versatility.

    Cruz' father, Luis, Sr., played outfield for 18 seasons in Mexico, retiring at age 42. The elder Cruz was nominated for the Mexican baseball hall of fame and still coaches back home in Navojoa.

    "Everything I learned in the outfield came from him," Cruz said. "He retired in 2001 and I started playing there in 2003, so we didn't get to play together."

FIELDING:
 
  • Luis has average speed, but is not much of a threat to steal.
RUNNING:
 

  • July 2007: Cruz went on the D.L. the first week of the month.

  • 2009: In spring training, Luis missed a week of action because of a hip flexor.

  • May 18, 2013: Cruz said he was not available to play that night because of a bone spur flare-up in his right elbow. Luis said he has three spurs in his throwing elbow, and they occasionally pinch a nerve.

    "Since I was 11, I can't straighten my arm, and once in a while, this happens, and I just have to let it rest," said Cruz. "My brother has it and my father has it. But it's good today. I took swings, it's fine."

  • July 23-August 15, 2013: Luis was on the D.L. with a sprained right knee.

CAREER INJURY REPORT:
 
 
Last Updated 5/9/2019 8:38:00 PM. All contents © 2000 by Player Profiles. All rights reserved.