The Seattle Mariners lost their home opener to the Boston Red Sox, 4-6, despite a nostalgic and celebratory atmosphere at T-Mobile Park. Former Mariner Nelson Cruz threw out the first pitch, and Mitch Haniger received a warm welcome from fans upon his return. Haniger and Dylan Moore both hit home runs, but the Red Sox capitalized on pitcher Luis Castillo's struggles to secure the win. The game was also a poignant reminder of the passage of time, with the author reflecting on the absence of their late father and the enduring connections between past, present, and future on every Opening Day.
Seven-time All-Star Nelson Cruz, who has 464 career home runs, has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 19 seasons. The 43-year-old slugger revealed his decision during an appearance on "The Adam Jones Podcast" and stated that he would be participating in the Dominican Professional Baseball League this winter as a farewell tour. Cruz, a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, has played for eight teams throughout his career and was suspended for 50 games in 2013 due to his connection to the Biogenesis scandal.
Nelson Cruz, a seven-time MLB All-Star, has announced his retirement after a 19-season career. Cruz, known for his powerful hitting, played for eight teams and hit 464 career home runs. Despite a late start to his career and a suspension for PED use in 2013, Cruz's case for the Hall of Fame is complicated. While he was one of baseball's best hitters in the past decade, his Wins Above Replacement (WAR) falls short compared to other HOFers. However, the recent inclusion of Harold Baines, who had a lower WAR, gives Cruz hope. Additionally, Cruz left a lasting legacy with the Minnesota Twins, transforming the team's culture and setting a home run record. He was forthright about his PED mistake and used it as an opportunity to educate younger players.
Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano is set to meet with the team's training staff after departing the All-Star Game due to lower back tightness; White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. was scratched from the game after feeling calf tightness during the Home Run Derby and will be reevaluated before Friday's game; Padres DH Nelson Cruz, who was released after being designated for assignment, has no plans to retire and hopes to continue playing.
The San Diego Padres have designated Nelson Cruz for assignment, ending his tenure with the team. The move was made to prioritize versatility on the bench, as the Padres promoted utility man Matthew Batten to take Cruz's place. Cruz had been primarily used as a DH and pinch-hitter against left-handed pitching, but the team needed more flexibility. Manager Bob Melvin praised Cruz's leadership and expressed confidence that he would find another team. The Padres also placed pitcher Michael Wacha on the IL with shoulder inflammation and made additional roster moves.
The San Diego Padres have designated 43-year-old slugger Nelson Cruz for assignment due to his down season. Cruz is hitting .245/.283/.399 with five home runs this season and has shown signs of slowing down. Assuming he clears waivers, the Padres will owe him the remainder of his $1 million salary. Cruz ranks 37th all-time with 464 career home runs and could potentially land with a new team due to his reputation as a great teammate and mentor. The Padres will now use the DH spot as a revolving door and make other roster moves to address their struggling season.
The San Diego Padres have designated slugger Nelson Cruz for assignment, while placing right-handed starter Michael Wacha on the injured list and optioning right-hander Domingo Tapia to Triple-A. Left-hander Jose Castillo, right-hander Matt Waldron, and infielder Matthew Batten have been recalled from Triple-A in corresponding moves. Cruz, in his 19th major league season, has a batting average of .245 with five home runs and 23 RBIs in 49 games.
The San Diego Padres have selected Alfonso Rivas onto the big league roster and activated Manny Machado from the 10-day injured list. Nelson Cruz has been placed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain, and José Azocar has been optioned to Triple-A El Paso. To open a 40-man roster spot for Rivas, Luis Campusano has moved from the 10-day to the 60-day IL. Rivas, a Chula Vista native, signed a minor league deal with the Padres over the winter and has been hitting .319/.440/.571 over 200 trips to the dish in El Paso.
Brett Wisely's athleticism and acumen were on full display as he made a quick calculation to throw out Nelson Cruz in the Giants' game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Wisely also hit his first big league homer, teaming with Thairo Estrada up the middle to give Alex Cobb plenty of support on both sides of the ball. The Giants won 4-1, their fourth straight. Wisely's strong defense has made it an easy call for Gabe Kapler, especially with a staff that has plenty who rely on getting the ball on the ground.
The San Diego Padres completed a sweep of the Mexico City Series by rallying for a 6-4 victory over the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. The Padres hit when they needed to, ensuring that they left Mexico with a pair of victories to push them a game above .500 at the end of April. Padres first baseman Matt Carpenter's two-out double put the Padres on top in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer and drove in six runs to lead the San Diego Padres to a 10-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. At 42 years and 282 days, Cruz became the third-oldest player to have a six-RBI game since RBI became an official stat in 1920. Seth Lugo pitched six effective innings for San Diego, and Ha-Seong Kim hit a two-run homer. The Padres have won three straight for the second time this season, while the Braves have lost eight of the last 11 games to the Padres at Truist Park.
The San Diego Padres won 10-2 against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday Night Baseball, taking three of four games in the series. Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer and had six RBIs, while Trent Grisham and Ha-Seong Kim also hit home runs. Seth Lugo pitched six innings of one-run ball. The Padres showed their depth and offensive power, and with Fernando Tatis Jr. due back soon, they are a scary proposition for the rest of the NL.
The San Diego Padres won their third straight game against the Atlanta Braves with a 10-2 victory on Sunday. Nelson Cruz drove in six runs, while Seth Lugo held the Braves to just one run in six innings. The Padres offense scored in every inning from the second through the sixth, with seven of the nine players scoring at least once. The Padres' bullpen was able to rest as Lugo picked up the win, and the team departed for New York with a 6-4 record.
The Atlanta Braves lost 10-2 to the San Diego Padres, with Dylan Dodd struggling on the mound. Dodd allowed 10 hits and seven runs, including two home runs, in just 4 1/3 innings. Ronald Acuña Jr. reached base three times, but the Braves left nine men on base and were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The Braves will need to regroup for their upcoming series against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Atlanta Braves will face off against the San Diego Padres in the final game of their four-game series on Sunday night. Sean Murphy will catch and hit fifth for the Braves, while Nelson Cruz returns to the Padres' lineup as the designated hitter. Ronald Acuña Jr. is 5-for-10 against Padres' right-hander Seth Lugo, who will be starting for San Diego. The game will be broadcast on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.
