Enrique Cruz

Note: This page discusses 2000s infielder Enrique Cruz. For the Dominican national team infielder of the same name, click here.

Enrique Manuel Cruz

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut April 2, 2003
• Final Game April 16, 2007
• Born November 21, 1981 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

The brother of minor leaguer Elvis Cruz, infielder Enrique Cruz was signed by the New York Mets at 16 and made his pro debut in 1999. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2002 Rule V Draft. The team regarded him highly and kept him on their active roster for the entire 2003 season although he was only able to collect a total of 6 hits (6-for-71, a double) in 60 games. In 2004, he returned to the minors. He struggled with the AA Huntsville Stars and was sent down to the High Desert Mavericks, where he clubbed 17 homers in 97 games. He returned to Huntsville in 2005 and hit .300 with 14 home runs and 60 RBI. In 2006, he began the year with the AAA Nashville Sounds but was traded to the Texas Rangers organization for Brian Shouse in May. After the season, he became a free agent and signed with the Cincinnati Reds.

Cruz returned to the majors with the Reds for one game early in 2007, going 0-for-1 and finishing his big league career with a .083/.143/.097 line, good for the worst career batting average for a position player with more than 50 at bats. He played the rest of the season for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts, hitting .267 with 29 doubles and 7 homers in 128 games as their regular third baseman. He signed with the New York Mets for 2008 but was released at the end of spring training and picked up by the Atlanta Braves, spending the season with the AAA Richmond Braves, hitting .213 in 72 games as a utility infielder. After sitting out 2009, in 2010 and 2011 he played for the independent Edmonton Capitals, crushing the ball to the tune of a .381 average the first year, and .361 the second. He ended his career with the Kansas City T-Bones in 2012.