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Nelson Cruz 2022 Player Outlook: Ignore The Age Of This Annual Slugger
3 years agoWashington Nationals designated hitter Nelson Cruz continued to defy age in 2021, although didn't put up the numbers we've come to expect. Over 140 games split between the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays, he slashed .265/.334/.497 with 79 runs, 86 RBI, three stolen bases, and 32 HRs, his lowest full-season total since 2012. Cruz started strong with an OPS of .907 in his first 85 games before struggling after a trade to the Rays. Across 55 games in Tampa, his power was still there with 13 HRs, but he batted just .226. It wasn't as bad as it looks, though, considering the 41-year-old's expected batting average was .241 during that time. He doesn't look to be slowing down too much, as Cruz's Statcast page was still elite, posting 93rd percentile average exit velocity, 94th percentile hard-hit rate, and 85th percentile barrel rate. He also brought his strikeout rate down from 25.7% across the last two seasons to 21.6% last year. The Nationals lineup may not be deep, but he'll have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs with Juan Soto projected to hit in front of him. Cruz's ADP is currently 181, cheap for the 30 HRs and .260 batting average fantasy managers are bound to get.
