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Nelson Cruz hospitalized with chest problem

Nelson Cruz hit 24 home runs for the Rangers last season.

Nelson Cruz hit 24 home runs for the Rangers last season.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Texas Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz has been hospitalized over what team doctors diagnosed as a muscle strain in his chest.

Assistant general manager Thad Levine (luh-VEEN') said Friday that Cruz was sent to a hospital to rule out anything more serious than a muscle problem.

Cruz was set to leave Sunday to join the Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic. He leads the Rangers with five RBIs this spring training, although he's hitting just .214.

The 32-year-old Cruz played a career-high 159 games last season, hitting .260 with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs.

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