#23

​

​

Full Name:
 

Nelson Ramón Cruz Martínez​

​

Nicknames:

​

“Boomstick"

​

Born:  
   

July 1, 1980

Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic

​

Family:  

​

Father: Nelson, Sr.

Mother: Dominga

Sisters: Nelsy Montez and Olga

Grandmother: Maria Dimentel (Lola)

Grandfather: Ramon (deceased)

Uncle: Uirgilio Cruz Esteves

Spouse: Solani Genao

 

His father played professional baseball in the Dominican Republic.

 

Dominga (mother) taught elementary school and Nelson Sr. taught high school social studies. Although some pages on the Internet suggest his parents were professors this is likely a translation error.

 

His father founded a basketball team in their community called the Patronales.

 

He and his wife were married on December 25, 2009.

 

His grandfather was a farmer and Nelson worked on the farm as a child.

​

Friends:  

​

Mando Gutierrez, a friend from Texas

​

School:  

​

Not available​

​

Baseball Related:

​

1998 - Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the New York Mets. He played in the Dominican Summer League. Mets scout Eddy Toledo found him.

 

2000 - Traded from the Mets to the Oakland Athletics for Jorge Velandia.

 

2004 - Traded from the Athletics to the Milwaukee Brewers for Keith Ginter.

 

2006 - Traded from the Brewers (with Carlos Lee) to the Texas Rangers for Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero and Julian Cordero.

 

2013 - After the season he turned down a $14 million qualifying offer from the Rangers and became a free agent.

 

2014 - Signed a 1-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles ($8 million).

 

2014 - After the season, Cruz signed a 4-year contract with the Seattle Mariners ($57 million).

​

Extra:

​

2013 - He was suspended 50 games for his involvement in the Biogenesis baseball scandal.

 

Idol: Michael Jordan

He played basketball growing up and was more interested in it than baseball.

 

As a youth he worked as a mechanic in his uncle's shop.

​

Sample Heckles:

​

"Michael Jordan never took steroids. You should be allowed to wear 23!" 

​

Heckle him on twitter:

​

@ncboomstick23