Jose Cruz
Born: 4/19/1974 in Arroyo, P.R.
MLB Debut: 1997-05-31 | Final Game: 2008-06-05
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Jose Luis Cruz
Biography
Jose Cruz was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1997 to 2008. Known for his versatility as a position player, Cruz appeared in 1,388 games throughout his tenure in Major League Baseball. He recorded 1,167 hits and was a consistent power threat, belting 204 home runs while driving in 624 runs during his career. Cruz's batting average stood at .247, and he showcased his speed on the bases with 113 stolen bases, making him a dual threat as both a hitter and a baserunner.
Playing in an era marked by the rise of offensive prowess and the introduction of advanced analytics, Cruz contributed to his teams with a blend of power and speed that was valued at the time. He navigated through various phases of his career, adapting to the evolving landscape of baseball while remaining a reliable presence in the lineup. Cruz's contributions to the game were significant, as he represented the blend of traditional skills and modern baseball strategies, leaving a lasting impact as a respected player in the league.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1388 | 4724 | 713 | 1167 | 252 | 36 | 204 | 624 | 113 | 658 | 1147 | 0.247 | 0.337 | 0.445 | 0.783 | 2772.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | SEA | AL | 49 | 183 | 28 | 49 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 34 | 1 | 13 | 45 | 0.268 | 353.5 |
| 1997 | TOR | AL | 55 | 212 | 31 | 49 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 34 | 6 | 28 | 72 | 0.231 | 353.5 |
| 1998 | TOR | AL | 105 | 352 | 55 | 89 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 42 | 11 | 57 | 99 | 0.253 | 109.3 |
| 1999 | TOR | AL | 106 | 349 | 63 | 84 | 19 | 3 | 14 | 45 | 14 | 64 | 91 | 0.241 | 221.0 |
| 2000 | TOR | AL | 162 | 603 | 91 | 146 | 32 | 5 | 31 | 76 | 15 | 71 | 129 | 0.242 | -9.3 |
| 2001 | TOR | AL | 146 | 577 | 92 | 158 | 38 | 4 | 34 | 88 | 32 | 45 | 138 | 0.274 | 1367.8 |
| 2002 | TOR | AL | 124 | 466 | 64 | 114 | 26 | 5 | 18 | 70 | 7 | 51 | 106 | 0.245 | -11.4 |
| 2003 | SFG | NL | 158 | 539 | 90 | 135 | 26 | 1 | 20 | 68 | 5 | 102 | 121 | 0.250 | 649.4 |
| 2004 | TBR | AL | 153 | 545 | 76 | 132 | 25 | 8 | 21 | 78 | 11 | 76 | 117 | 0.242 | 0.4 |
| 2005 | AZ | NL | 64 | 202 | 23 | 43 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 28 | 0 | 42 | 54 | 0.213 | 248.1 |
| 2005 | BOS | AL | 4 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.250 | 248.1 |
| 2005 | LAD | NL | 47 | 156 | 23 | 47 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 0 | 23 | 43 | 0.301 | 248.1 |
| 2006 | LAD | NL | 86 | 223 | 34 | 52 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 5 | 43 | 54 | 0.233 | -118.6 |
| 2007 | SDP | NL | 91 | 256 | 37 | 60 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 31 | 65 | 0.234 | -435.4 |
| 2008 | HOU | NL | 38 | 49 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 0.122 | -342.4 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | NLDS1 | SFN | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1312 | 1239 | 2800 | 80 | 40 | 17 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | SEA | OF | 49 | 47 | 83 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | TOR | OF | 55 | 55 | 98 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1998 | TOR | OF | 105 | 96 | 247 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| 1999 | TOR | OF | 106 | 96 | 277 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| 2000 | TOR | OF | 162 | 162 | 405 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| 2001 | TOR | OF | 143 | 141 | 286 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 | TOR | OF | 119 | 118 | 255 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
| 2003 | SFN | OF | 158 | 152 | 340 | 18 | 2 | 7 |
| 2004 | TBA | OF | 152 | 148 | 315 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2005 | ARI | OF | 58 | 57 | 98 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | BOS | OF | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | LAN | OF | 45 | 42 | 100 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 | LAN | OF | 71 | 54 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | SDN | OF | 70 | 60 | 147 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2008 | HOU | OF | 15 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 288 |
| Center Field | 600 |
| Right Field | 460 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Player of the Week | Week of 2004-05-22 |
| 2003 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 2001 | Player of the Week | Week of 2001-10-06 |
| 2000 | Player of the Week | Week of 2000-05-06 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | HOU | NL | $650,000 |
| 2007 | SDN | NL | $650,000 |
| 2006 | LAN | NL | $2,910,000 |
| 2005 | ARI | NL | $4,000,000 |
| 2004 | TBA | AL | $2,500,000 |
| 2003 | SFN | NL | $2,500,000 |
| 2002 | TOR | AL | $3,950,000 |
| 2001 | TOR | AL | $2,350,000 |
| 2000 | TOR | AL | $395,000 |
| 1999 | TOR | AL | $400,000 |
| 1998 | TOR | AL | $325,000 |
| 1997 | TOR | AL | $150,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $20,780,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice University | Houston | TX | 1993, 1994, 1995 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 61.0 | 140 | 0 |