Nelson Cruz Fantasy

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz is turning 40 years old on Wednesday but doesn't feel that he's approaching retirement after hitting 41 home runs last season. Cruz also had baseball's third-highest average exit velocity in 2019. "Nelson Cruz is in probably better shape than almost any player in the game. Hes diligent. Nelson Cruz is not your typical 40-year-old ballplayer. Hes a special guy," manager Rocco Baldelli said. The veteran slugger was hitting .435 in Grapefruit League play with a team-leading three home runs before the season was shut down due to COVID-19. Cruz takes great care of his body to stay in shape and doesn't see retirement on the horizon. Fantasy owners are understandably hesitant to take Cruz because of his age and his eligibility as a DH, but he continues to produce. It could make even more sense to grab him in 2020 at a reduced cost during a shortened 60-game season for his power stroke. Cruz missed two weeks last year with a torn wrist ligament and still hit .311, his highest average since 2010. He posted career highs in slugging percentage (.639) and OPS (1.031). His 12.5% of barreled balls and 52.5% hard-hit rate were the best percentages in the majors. Not bad for an old guy.

yesterday

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz continued his hot hitting in a tie with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Cruz went 3-for-3 with a solo home run to left in the first inning. The 39-year-old currently leads the team in hits, home runs, and has an OPS of 1.676. With a .351 BABIP last year, Cruz is probably due for some negative regression in batting average in 2020, though owners who draft him can bank on around 40 homers- he's hit at least 37 six years in a row. Despite the injury concerns for the veteran, fantasy owners should be comfortable taking him at his current ADP of 91.

3 months ago

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz (wrist) suffered a bruised left wrist on Wednesday after being hit by a pitch during a live batting practice session. Manager Rocco Baldelli said Cruz should be fine. Cruz will turn 40 years old on July 1, and although there are obvious injury concerns with a player his age, he remains one of the premier power hitters in baseball after slugging 41 homers, driving in 108 and batting .311 with a 1.031 OPS in 120 games for the Twins in his first season in Minnesota. You should probably bake in some missed time to your Cruz 2020 projection, but he's still valuable in all leagues for his power stroke and will likely come off the board around the fifth or sixth round.

4 months ago