Henry Cruz
Encyclopedia
Henry Cruz (born February 27, 1952 in Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands) is a former Major League Baseball
Outfielder
who currently works as the director of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Dominican baseball academy.
Cruz was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers
on January 1, 1971. He made his major league debut, as a pinch hitter, on April 18, 1975 against the San Francisco Giants
. He recorded his first hit on April 20 against the Giants.
Cruz played parts of the 1975 and 1976 seasons with the Dodgers. He was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox near the end of the 1977 season while hitting .353 for the AAA Albuquerque Dukes
.
Cruz was signed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox
in September 1977. He played 16 games for the Sox in 77 and another 53 games in 1978. He remained in the Sox minor league system through 1980, when he was picked up off waivers by the Detroit Tigers
.
Cruz retired after playing for the Evansville Triplets
in 1981. However, he then went on to play in the Mexican League for the following 4 years: 1982 played for Reynosa Broncos; 1983 played for Leon, Guanahuato; and 1984-85 played for the Saltillo Seraperos. He ended his playing career after the 1985 season.
He was also one of the most consistent hitters for the Arecibo Wolves
in the Puerto Rico Winter Baseball League
during this period.
Cruz spent 10 seasons as a scout for the Cleveland Indians
following his playing days. In 2007, the Dodgers hired him to be the hitting instructor for Class-A Ogden Raptors
. He was moved to the Inland Empire 66ers in 2008.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who currently works as the director of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
Dominican baseball academy.
Cruz was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on January 1, 1971. He made his major league debut, as a pinch hitter, on April 18, 1975 against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He recorded his first hit on April 20 against the Giants.
Cruz played parts of the 1975 and 1976 seasons with the Dodgers. He was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox near the end of the 1977 season while hitting .353 for the AAA Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
.
Cruz was signed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in September 1977. He played 16 games for the Sox in 77 and another 53 games in 1978. He remained in the Sox minor league system through 1980, when he was picked up off waivers by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Cruz retired after playing for the Evansville Triplets
Evansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
in 1981. However, he then went on to play in the Mexican League for the following 4 years: 1982 played for Reynosa Broncos; 1983 played for Leon, Guanahuato; and 1984-85 played for the Saltillo Seraperos. He ended his playing career after the 1985 season.
He was also one of the most consistent hitters for the Arecibo Wolves
Lobos de Arecibo
Lobos de Arecibo are a professional baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League, based in Arecibo. The Lobos won the 1983 national baseball championship and the 1983 Caribbean World Series, the only time the franchise won both titles....
in the Puerto Rico Winter Baseball League
Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
The Puerto Rico Baseball League formerly known as Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico or LBPPR, is the main professional baseball league in Puerto Rico. In 2007, the LBPPR recessed for the first time since its creation...
during this period.
Cruz spent 10 seasons as a scout for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
following his playing days. In 2007, the Dodgers hired him to be the hitting instructor for Class-A Ogden Raptors
Ogden Raptors
The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of...
. He was moved to the Inland Empire 66ers in 2008.