Nelson Cruz. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Nelson Cruz received fitting farewell with Mariners on Opening Day

By David Hill | Last updated 3/29/24

Nelson Cruz had some of his best seasons with the Seattle Mariners. It is only fitting that his career came to an end in the Pacific Northwest.

Opening Day was special for Cruz. He threw out the first pitch then signed a one-day contract, retiring as a member of the Mariners. That moment meant a great deal to Cruz as he clearly appreciated the organization and the support of the fans.

.@ncboomstick23 has always felt the love from Mariners fans pic.twitter.com/HEUlHRDzkR
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 29, 2024

Cruz had many ups and downs in his career. He established himself in the majors when he was 28 years old, breaking through with an All-Star campaign in 2009. Cruz was caught up in the BioGenesis scandal in 2013, serving a 50-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy.

He was also much more than that PED suspension. Cruz was a seven-time All-Star and a four-time Silver Slugger while finishing in the top 10 of the MVP ballot five times. He was named the MVP of the 2011 ALCS, hitting six homers in the series and helping lead the Rangers to their first World Series appearance. One of the most fearsome power hitters in the game, Cruz hit over 30 homers eight times, including a six-year streak from 2014 -19.

Overall, Cruz posted a .274/.343/.513 batting line in his 8,396 plate appearances, hitting 464 homers and 372 doubles. And he was even better during his time in Seattle, producing a .284/.362/.546 batting line with 163 homers and 93 doubles over four seasons.

Cruz was a superstar then, one of the best players in franchise history. It's only right that he's remembered at his best while saying goodbye to a decorated career.

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