Nelson Cruz retires after hitting 464 HRs in 19 seasons
"The Boomstick" is calling it a career.
Slugger Nelson Cruz, 43, is retiring from Major League Baseball, he announced on "The Adam Jones Podcast" on Thursday.
Breaking: For the second time in less than a month on our podcast, a former #Orioles player has announced his retirement from the #MLB.
— The Adam Jones Podcast (@AdamJonesPod) November 2, 2023
All the best to @ncboomstick23 after 19 great years!
▶️ https://t.co/7fPFG0bTmm@SimplyAJ10 | @sportswcoleman | @BaltimoreBanner pic.twitter.com/EPRTJQ7n7P
Cruz announced in October he would participate in a six-game retirement tour during the Dominican Winter League season, although there was no indication he would hang up his cleats in the majors until today.
The Dominican slugger appeared in 49 games for the San Diego Padres last season, hitting five home runs with a .681 OPS before he was released in July. He didn't sign elsewhere after his release.
The slugger will retire with 464 homers under his belt across an impressive 19-year career that included stints with eight big-league clubs. The 464 round-trippers rank 37th all time, one behind Dave Winfield.
Cruz, a seven-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, received MVP votes on six different occasions, finishing sixth in both 2015 and 2020.