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Minnesota Twins: Why Nelson Cruz is a legitimate MVP candidate

By Chris Schad

Nelson Cruz of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after scoring a run in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field on August 3, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 11-3. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Nelson Cruz of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after scoring a run in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field on August 3, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 11-3. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 28: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twinshits a single in the 1st inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 28, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 28: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Minnesota Twinshits a single in the 1st inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 28, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Cruz’s season at a glance

Just looking at Cruz’s season through Thursday’s action, it’s apparent that he’s having a season that not even the Twins could have dreamed of when they signed him to a one-year contract (with a team option for 2020) last December.

Entering Friday, Cruz was hitting .303 with 33 HR and 80 RBI in 90 games. Even more impressive is that while Cruz might flirt with his career-high of 44 HR in 2015, his advanced numbers are also approaching career levels with a slugging percentage (.662) and OPS (1.050) that would be career-bests and an on-base percentage (.389) that would rank third.

These numbers are ridiculous for a 39-year old but are completely insane when you think that Cruz has gotten better as the season has gone along. Since the All-Star break, Cruz has been on a rampage that has seen him post a slash line of .356/.407/.904 with an OPS of 1.341. In addition, he has been a run-producing monster with 17 home runs and 34 RBI in the second half.

These numbers have also been produced while Cruz missed a week with a ruptured wrist tendon. Speaking of that injury, Cruz has decided to play through it and in Tuesday’s win over the Chicago White Sox, he went out and casually smacked three doubles and a home run to show he’ll be just fine.

While his production hasn’t kept the Twins from blowing their big lead in the American League Central, it’s played a huge part in keeping them afloat and putting them in the thick of the postseason race.

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