Nelson Cruz signed a one-year contract with the Padres in January, making him the second oldest player in the major leagues. The 42-year-old outfielder and designated hitter is in his 19th major league season and is a seven-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. He’s also the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a player for his performance on the field as well as his work in the community, and the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award. A native of Las Matas de Santa Cruz in the Dominican Republic, Cruz is a mentor to many — including Manny Machado, who he played with in 2014 when the two were part of the Baltimore Orioles.
Union-Tribune: So this is your eighth major league team…
Cruz: Yeah, I counted them the other day.
U-T: Do you forget how many years you’ve played sometimes?
Cruz: Yeah. I mean, I know the year that I come up, but I was up and down the first few years. So I don’t know exactly how much major league service.
U-T: You don’t have enough fingers to count how many years you’ve played. You have to use your toes. What stands out about the Padres that’s different from other teams you’ve played with?
Cruz: Very professional, I guess. If you think as a player there’s something that you need to be ready for the game, to make you comfortable, whatever it might be to make you happy, we have it here. … And we got a lot of information. A lot of computers, machines, to figure out your swing, whatever you might need to stay on point for at-bats.
U-T: You’ve had practice going to new teams. Do you acclimate quickly? Because you’ve seemed comfortable from the start.
Cruz: Well, I guess. It’s hard to go to a new team and try to learn all the names. It’s still a process to find everyone and call them by their name. I’m really close.
https://youtu.be/zpfSUePBA
U-T: Have you figured out where everything is?
Cruz: Yes, I figured it out. Especially the nap room. I know exactly where to go to take naps.
U-T: How long have you known Fernando Tatis Jr.?
Cruz: (Since) 2008, 2009. … I played with his dad in the (World Baseball Classic) in 2009. I played against his dad in the minors, in the big leagues.
U-T: That’s a long time. Do they call you Papa Cruz, or anything like that?
Cruz: Yeah. Manny calls me that.
U-T: Manny calls you Papa Cruz?! Well, this is a good time to talk about your age. To have longevity like you’ve had in this league and still perform at a high level is impressive. Did you ever think you’d be playing this long?
Cruz: Not really. I mean coming up, you always want to play, like hopefully you can play 10 years. I guess it comes quick. I always tell the guys, take advantage of any opportunity that you have, especially the playoffs and World Series, stuff like that. I when I was in Texas, we went back-to-back years to the World Series and I was like, ‘Oh, this is easy, I’m going to go every year’ — and then it’s been almost 12 years since the last time I was there. … It took me three, four more years after that to realize, ‘OK, it’s hard to go there.’ So any chance that I have to be in the playoffs, I always make sure I tell the guys, soak it in, you don’t know if you’re gonna go back or when you’re gonna go back.
U-T: That’s one thing you haven’t done. You’ve done a lot in your career, but to win a World Series is still on the list. Jake Cronenworth said the other day that it’s great having you around because you’ve seen practically every situation possible for a baseball player. You can relate to guys. Do they come to you for advice or do you go to them?
Cruz: It can go back and forth. I can go and talk to the guys about hitting if I see something that I feel can help them. It doesn’t have to be necessarily a position player, it can be a pitcher also, if I see they’re tipping or you need to throw this pitch, maybe that help you to get better. I feel like it’s part of my job now to stay involved and in situations that come up during the game and also outside, on life in general.
U-T: You’re kind of part coach …
Cruz: Yes, I don’t see it as a coach, I see it like a guy who has experience. … As a player, sometimes you don’t listen too much to the coaches and stuff like that. So it’s good to have a guy who they can say ‘OK, he’s done it, he’s experienced that,’ and go ask me. And I love to do that. I want them to be in the best position they can be to be successful on the field.
U-T: Let’s go back to the Dominican Republic, where you grew up. You worked throughout high school. You worked on tractors, on cars, you shined shoes. What was that like?
Cruz: Well, my dad and my mom are both teachers. I don’t think they made enough money doing only that, but the message wasn’t like, ‘We want him to work.’ The message was, ‘We want him to learn hard work.’ My dad always says if you are doing something else besides playing around, you be more likely (to not) do anything wrong outside of what I’m supposed to be doing. So he always wanted me to work and keep my mind busy so I’m not making trouble outside of my house and with other kids.
U-T: Very smart. What job did you like or not like the most?
Cruz: Ohhh, I hated (being a) mechanic. … After I signed, even like 10 years after I was in the big leagues, I still have nightmares, like I have to go back to work (on cars).
U-T: What would you do? Like oil changes?
Cruz: Yeah, oil changes, changing transmissions, changing motors, fixing everything. I was a kid, I wanted to play around. But I always had nightmares. Thank God, now they go away. I don’t have those no more.
U-T: You were big into basketball as a kid. Did you like basketball or baseball better?
Cruz: I like both, but I didn’t have the time to go and play baseball because I worked from Monday to Saturday, and the only team that we have in my community, they play on Saturdays. So I was working. They played a softball game between high schools and I did good in the softball game and they said, ‘Why you don’t play?’ and I was like, ‘I don’t know. We don’t have a team to play. I’m working Saturday.’ So exactly the same month, they created a baseball team to start playing on Sundays. That’s when I ed the team and because of that, I guess I’m where I am right now.
U-T: So your parents were both teachers. What was that like? Did you always have to do your homework?
Cruz: Yeah, they were both my teachers. Imagine, I have to be the first one in class (laughs). I have to stay in the classes every day, I cannot miss school. You know, they know everything. … Even to have a haircut, I want to do a haircut and (my dad) was like, ‘No, you cannot do it.’ I was like, ‘Why? The other guys have it?’ He was like, ‘You have to be the example. How are we gonna tell the other kids don’t do it if my son has that? So you have to be the example.’ I’m like, ‘OK, OK, I get it.’
U-T: Where you grew up, there wasn’t always running water or electricity. You helped purchase the first fire truck and the first ambulance for your hometown, you hold health clinics to allow residents to get dental work and mammograms, you bring baseball gear back to the kids and adults. And that’s only some of the stuff you do. You’ve spent so much time and money investing in your hometown. Why?
Cruz: I always saw my dad doing the same thing when I was growing up. He always had meetings to try to figure out how we can help the community. You always dream, ‘Oh, when I have the chance to be like Sammy Sosa, I will help my community.’ And you go to different towns where yes, I see electricity, I see ambulances. and it’s like, ‘I want the same thing for my community.’ One of my friends, he had mental problems and his house just burned completely because we don’t have the fire truck. So I show up to spring training (with the Texas Rangers) and I was like, ‘I’m gonna have to buy a fire truck.’ I went to the trainers, like, ‘Who do I ask?’ We started looking online and the fire trucks, they cost like $300,000. I was making the (league) minimum, how am I gonna buy that?! So I talked to the Rangers Foundation. And they talked to the fire department in Arlington and they helped me out with that. I ended up buying the ambulance and they donated a fire truck.
U-T: That’s literally saving people’s lives.
Cruz: Yes. And it wasn’t only my community. People from other communities call and they use the ambulance and the fire truck. So a lot of people stop by and tell me, ‘Oh, thank you, because of the ambulance that you bought, my grandma, my aunt is alive.’ And I had the chance to help my own grandma using the same ambulance to go to the emergency room. So I know how important those things are. You take that for granted here in the States. You call and you don’t think about it; it just shows up. It’s not the same way there. Even to move the ambulance, you have to pay to put the gas in the ambulance before they leave. So we try to do the best we can to help all the people who have those needs.
U-T: You live in the Dominican in the offseason. Do you live on a farm?
Cruz: I have a farm.
U-T: Like with animals, like cows and chickens? Do you know how to take care of them?
Cruz: Yes, with cows and chickens. I know how, yeah. … I always took care of the cows with my grandpa. I milk the cows.
U-T: When you were 18, you signed with the Mets. Your parents said you had to finish high school first. What do you about that time?
Cruz: Well, I didn’t know much about how do you sign and how do you get the contract. So I did a tryout. I only trained for like eight months and I signed right away. I did a try out on Sunday and this guy told me, ‘Tomorrow, I’m gonna go sign you.’ Well, OK. I went to school with my dad, like we go every day. I was in Grade 11. And (the guy) showed up to the high school. We went to my house and we discuss the contract. We finished the contract, I went back to school. And that’s when he told (my dad) we need him to go to the (Baseball Academy). My dad was like, ‘No, he needs to finish school first; then he can go.’ So I finished that grade that year and went to play summer league. The next year, I was like, ‘OK, I don’t have to deal with school anymore.’ No. I had to finish the 12th grade. So I get up at 7, go and play at (noon), finish the game at 3 or 4 p.m. and then go home. I live with my sister and she worked until 7. I had to cook once I show up to the house. After I cooked, I shower, study a little bit and go to school from 7-10 p.m. and sleep and do it all over again.
U-T: You’re a seven-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger. You’re one of the best pure power hitters of this generation. Is there a certain year of your career or a certain award that means the most to you?
Cruz: I think the humanitarian awards, because you’re changing lives. I the first few years when we do the dentist clinic, people show with no teeth and they are really shy. Their identity wasn’t there. They don’t want to smile. And then a few hours later they show up really happy, like they are really smiling. The confidence shows. You cannot buy anything with that. I guess similar stuff is hitting homers maybe, but you are changing people’s lives and that stays forever. Those awards are the ones that really make me more proud to have.
U-T: You know how Tatis Jr. does the bat flips and the dancing? Was that happening when you first played in the big leagues?
Cruz: Nooooo.
U-T: Are you glad that now the game embraces some of that, or are you more old-school?
Cruz: I love it. Fans come to see a show. We try to be professional, but at the end it’s a show. They want the flavor, they want the players to show the personality. And what Fernando and other players bring to the game, it’s definitely impacted the game in a good way.
U-T: Would we ever see you dance out there?
Cruz: Yes.
U-T: Let’s talk about you and Manny Machado. You two are very close. How did your relationship blossom?
Cruz: I watching him coming up. I saw, ‘Oh, big prospect for the Orioles.’ And I always brought food to the other clubhouse, to the Dominican players and the Latin players. So I saw the Orioles come in and like two days before that (Machado) hit a double, his first big league hit. So I was like, ‘Let me send the food to Manny.’ I went to third (base) and he was like, ‘Oh, thank you very much.’ I say, ‘Yeah I got you tomorrow too (laughs).’
U-T: I want to pause to explain this. You were with the Rangers and whenever Latin players would come to the ballpark, you would make sure there was Dominican food for them in the opposing clubhouse?
Cruz: Yeah, because I the first few years going through the league, it was hard because I always love my food. I always want my Dominican food. Going to the league, it was hard to find food. So I make sure the players who play against me, at least they go with that flavor, and I create that relationship with those players through food.
I did it in the minors too. When I was in Triple-A, I a few guys go there and I always made sure that I cooked for them and I brought the food. Back then, I used to cook. Chicken, rice, beans. And when I got called up, I I went to Anaheim and (Vladimir Guerrero), he would always send food to us. So I guess that’s how everything comes up.
U-T: Did you do that for awhile in your career?
Cruz: I’m still doing it. … I take that like a big responsibility. I want them to feel, I guess, that I’m always thinking about them. So it don’t matter who they are, I am always thinking, ‘OK, who is on the other side? OK, bring food to the other guys.’ We also do it for my teammates here. We always have it.
U-T: You helped Manny see the value of taking care of his body. Who do you employ around you to keep you at your best?
Cruz: I have my cousin now, he’s a chef. He cooks for me. He’s the one who got me the diet and all the food that I need. I have my massage therapist. During the offseason I have my go-to workout guy. He goes to the Dominican. Once I start working out in the Dominican, the whole group go there and I also invite other players to go, so I have Luis Arráez, a few years ago we had Starlin Castro. Many players go there and a bunch of minor leaguers.
U-T: How different was young Manny from who he is now?
Cruz: He looks pretty similar. Definitely, he grew up. He’s very mature now. I’m really proud of him. Because he definitely shows leadership. It shows that he’s growing and he’s learning through the years.
U-T: You spent the bulk of your career with the Rangers. What’s your relationship like with (Padres President of Baseball Operations) A.J. Preller? How long have you known him?
Cruz: Since the Rangers. … Same guy. Hasn’t changed. I the first time I saw him I was like, ‘Who’s this guy?’ (laughs). Yeah, humble guy. He always have positive stuff to say. He’s really smart. We talked last year a little bit. I the year before, I almost came here. Manny called me, ‘Can you play first?’ Yes, I play first, (designated hitter), outfield, wherever you need me.
U-T: You got in a game earlier this season at first base.
Cruz: Oh my God. I was so pumped.
U-T: Really?! You love playing first base?
Cruz: Oh yes. I played first base in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s fun. A lot of action, runners get on base, you talk to the runners, to the umpires, to the coaches. In the outfield, I mean it’s OK, but it’s boring.
U-T: Whose glove did you use when you played first?
Cruz: My glove. Miguel Sanó give me his glove (in) like 2019 or 2020, so I’ve been using that.
