Beloved Former Seattle Mariners' Star Signs One-Day Contract to Retire as Member of Team
Nelson Cruz, who just announced his retirement this offseason, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Night at T-Mobile Park. Then, the former Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres' star signed a one-day contract in order to retire as a member of the M's.
Longtime Major League slugger Nelson Cruz, who just announced his retirement this offseason, officially signed a one-day contract on Thursday in order to retire as a member of the Seattle Mariners organization.
The ceremony came on the field at T-Mobile Park after Cruz threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day.
Per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times:
Nelson Cruz: "For this city. I would've died for the opportunity to play in the playoffs. We didn't have that chance. Many years we were really close and the excitement from the fans and all that, it was incredible."
Cruz also said that he felt the most comfortable in Seattle of any of his professional stops and that he identifies himself as a Mariner more than a Texas Ranger, despite playing there longer.
The 43-year-old bopper spent 19 years in the big leagues with the Rangers (eight years), Mariners (four years), Twins (three years), Rays, Orioles, Nationals and Padres (one year each). He hit 464 career home runs and drove in 1,325 runs. He hit no less than 37 homers in each of his four seasons with Seattle and he led the American League in RBI (119) during the 2017 season.
Cruz also retires as a career .274 hitter with a .343 on-base percentage. He now works for the Los Angeles Dodgers, in addition to a role with Major League Baseball.
Unfortunately, Cruz's big day was spoiled by the result on the field as the Mariners lost to the Red Sox, 6-4.
The two sides play again on Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET.
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