Tommy Cruz

Tommy Cruz
Rakuten Monkeys – No. 3
Outfielder / Coach
Born: (1951-02-15) February 15, 1951 (age 73)
Arroyo, Puerto Rico
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: September 4, 1973, for the St. Louis Cardinals
NPB: April 5, 1980, for the Nippon-Ham Fighters
Last appearance
MLB: September 25, 1977, for the Chicago White Sox
NPB: October 22, 1985, for the Nippon-Ham Fighters
MLB statistics
Batting average.000
Home runs0
Runs2
NPB statistics
Batting average.310
Home runs120
Runs batted in466
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Cirilo "Tommy" Cruz Dilan (born February 15, 1951) is a Puerto Rican former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1973) and Chicago White Sox (1977). Cruz batted and threw left-handed. He is the brother of Héctor and José Cruz, and uncle of José Cruz Jr.

Career

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Cruz had a brief major league career, appearing in seven games for the Cardinals and White Sox, going hitless in two at-bats with two runs scored. He also played in the Rangers and Yankees farm systems. He was traded along with cash from the Cardinals to the Rangers for Sonny Siebert on October 26, 1973.[1] He was dealt along with Jim Spencer from the White Sox to the Yankees for Stan Thomas and cash on December 12, 1977. The transaction also included an exchange of minor-league right‐handed pitcher with Ed Ricks going to the White Sox and Bob Polinsky to the Yankees.[2]

From 1980 through 1985, Cruz played in Japan for the Nippon-Ham Fighters. An All-Star in 1982 and 1984, he posted a .310 batting average with 120 home runs and 466 RBI in 712 games played. He was given the Best Nine Award in 1984.

On January 14, 2009, Cruz was named the hitting coach for the Single-A High Desert Mavericks in the Seattle Mariners organization.[3]

Acting

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Cruz participated as an actor in the Puerto Rican film, Los Diaz de Doris, playing a policeman.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Cards, Red Sox Confirm Trade of Wise for Smith," The New York Times, Saturday, October 27, 1973. Retrieved November 29, 2020
  2. ^ "Sports News Briefs," The New York Times, Tuesday, December 13, 1977. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Jim Street (January 12, 2009). "Mariners announce Minors coaches". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
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