Jacob Cruz

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name = Jacob Cruz
team = Potros de Tijuana
number = --
position = Outfielder
birthdate = birth date and age|1973|01|28
birthplace = city-state|Oxnard|California
bats = Left
throws = Left
debutdate = July 18
debutyear = 1996
debutteam = San Francisco Giants
statyear = 2007
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .241
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 19
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 105
teams =
*San Francisco Giants (by|1996-by|1998)
*Cleveland Indians (by|1998-by|2001)
*Colorado Rockies (by|2001)
*Detroit Tigers (by|2002)
*Cincinnati Reds (by|2004-by|2005)

Jacob Antonio Cruz (born January 28, 1973 in Oxnard, California), is a professional baseball player for the Potros de Tijuana of the Mexican Baseball League. Cruz played outfield in Major League Baseball from by|1996-by|2005. He bats and throws left-handed.

College

Cruz was drafted straight out of high school in by|1991 by the California Angels, but did not sign; instead, choosing to play baseball for Arizona State University. Cruz was drafted in the 1st round (32nd overall) of the by|1994 amateur draft by the San Francisco Giants, signing the next month.

Major League Baseball

Cruz would make his Major League debut on July 18, by|1996. Cruz spent most of 1996 and by|1997 in the Giants minor league system and after playing for the Giants Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies, for most of the by|1998 season, was traded to the Cleveland Indians on July 23, 1998, along with Steve Reed, for Shawon Dunston, Jose Mesa, and Alvin Morman. Cruz would play one game for the Indians in 1998 and would spend the rest of the year playing for the Buffalo Bisons, the Indians' Triple-A affiliate. On June 2, by|2001, the Indians traded Cruz to the Colorado Rockies for Jody Gerut and Josh Bard. Cruz would play 44 games for the Rockies and 20 for their Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, before being released by the Rockies on November 30, 2001.

On December 21, 2001, Cruz signed with the Detroit Tigers. Cruz played 35 games for the Tigers and was released on October 3, by|2002. On December 27, 2002, Cruz signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He would spend the next three years in the Reds organization, including appearing in a career-high 110 games in by|2005. Released by the Reds on April 14, by|2006, Cruz signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on May 30, 2006. Cruz played 55 games for the Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides, the rest of the year and was granted free agency at the end of the season.

Korea

Before the start of the by|2007 season, Cruz signed a contract with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization. Cruz had an excellent season with the Eagles, hitting .321 with 21 home runs and 85 RBI. Before the start of the by|2008 season, Cruz signed with the Samsung Lions. Cruz was cut by the Lions on May 23, 2008.

Mexico

After his release from the Lions, Cruz signed to play for the Potros de Tijuana of the Mexican Baseball League.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cruzja01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/sports_view.asp?newsIdx=17643&categoryCode=136 Korean Info]