Cruz grew up in Bellaire, Texas and attended Bellaire High School, where he played baseball. Cruz attended Rice University from to and was a member of Team USA in 1994, and was also a three time All-American while at Rice, setting virtually all possible offensive records. Cruz was a first round pick, 3rd overall, for the Seattle Mariners in the 1995 amateur draft and began his major league career on May 31,. His days in Seattle were short as he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Paul Spoljaric and Mike Timlin on July 31, 1997. As of the 2019 season, Cruz holds record for most home runs in the first season of a career, having played for two or more clubs. He stayed in Toronto until and twice hit at least 30 home runs with the Blue Jays. One of those was in, when he also stole 32 bases to become one of three players to record 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases during that season. He was signed as a free agent by the San Francisco Giants on January 28, 2003. In San Francisco, he won a Gold Glove and broke Willie Mays' franchise single-season record for outfield assists with 19. He was later acquired as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in. In, Cruz Jr. played for three teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and finally the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although injured most of the year, Cruz ended the season on a tear, hitting.301 with six homers as a Dodger. Cruz was picked to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. In the tournament, Cruz hit.353 with a.476 on-base percentage in five games, helping Puerto Rico reach the second round. The Dodgers designated Cruz for assignment on August 1, 2006, and eventually released him. Cruz later signed a contract with the San Diego Padres and played for them for a portion of the season. Cruz was placed on unconditional release waivers by the Padres on August 1, 2007. On August 18, 2007, the New York Yankees signed him to a minor league deal. On November 28, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros. At the end of the spring training, he was added to the 40-man roster. He was later designated for assignment. Cruz has worked as a Major League Baseball analyst for ESPN and MLB.com. Cruz said that he moved from Bellaire after being arrested by Bellaire police for a missing front license plate on a newly purchased car and spending one night in jail in 2002. Cruz accused the police of racial profiling.
Awards
Toronto Blue Jays team MVP in 2001. Cruz won the NL Gold Glove in 2003 as a member of the Giants.
