Rays’ Nelson Cruz Sets Home Run Record

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz had a great day at the plate in the Rays’ 12-7 win at Boston on September 7th. He was four for five with two homers and four RBIs. The pair of homers pushed his season total to 30, and at 41 years of age, he became the oldest player in major league history to hit 30 in a season.

Cruz began the season with Minnesota, and hit 19 homers for the Twins before being traded to Tampa Bay on July 22nd. The Rays lead the American League East and have the best record in the league, meaning they are a lock for the post season. The Twins are last in the A.L. Central, so the deal was quite an upgrade for Cruz, (who has played for six major league teams) and who now has 447 career home runs. He led the majors in homers with 40 in 2014, when he spent his only season with Baltimore, and hit a career high 44 the next year in his first season in Seattle. Besides his 30 home runs, Cruz is hitting .275 and has 81 RBIs and an OPS of .873. He’s got plenty left in the tank, and could reach the 500 home run milestone in the 2023 season.