Nelson Cruz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #8 prospect in 2006
  After joining the organization in the offseason Keith Ginter trade with Oakland, Cruz played in the Futures Game and was Milwaukee's minor league player of the year. He led Nashville to the Pacific Coast League title, winning the championship series MVP award with three homers in a sweep of Tacoma. Cruz' calling card is well above average raw power. He uses an aggressive swing, strong wrists and quick hands to generate a buggy-whip swing with violent bat speed. But power isn't his only plus tool. He also has a plus arm in right field. Cruz has holes in his swing. Pitchers use his aggressiveness against him with offspeed stuff in fastball counts. They'll also climb the ladder on him because he'll chase high heat. The Brewers say they can live with the strikeouts as long as he makes powerful contact. Cruz figures to take another turn through Triple-A in 2006. He's behind Corey Hart on the depth chart of corner outfielders that already includes Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #14 prospect in 2005
  With the A's looking to improve their depth at second base, the Brewers were able to get Cruz and reliever Justin Lehr for Keith Ginter in December. Cruz, whom Oakland stole from the Mets in a 2000 deal for Jorge Velandia, improved his stock significantly in 2004, when he was one of five hitters in the minors to reach 300 total bases. He's a legitimate five-tool talent. He has power to all fields and made tremendous strides in his pitch recognition last year, learning to lay off high fastballs and take pitches the other way. He has a plus arm, runs well and is an asset in right field. Despite the progress he made in his approach, Cruz still has a tendency to overswing. He tries to hit every ball farther than the last, leaving him slow out of the box. He'll open 2005 in Triple-A and should be ready for the majors by 2006, though Geoff Jenkins and newly acquired Carlos Lee have a firm hold on the corner-outfield spots in Milwaukee. Cruz also will have to contend with Corey Hart and Brad Nelson for playing time.