Career
He played during four seasons at the major league level for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Saint Louis Cardinals. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 28th round of the 1989 amateur draft. Cruz played his first professional season with their Class-A (Short Season) Niagara Falls Rapids in 1989, and his last with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan"s Central League in 2003.
In 2008, he entered his first of two seasons as manager of the United States. Military All-Stars/Heroes of the Diamond and the Latin Stars "Red, White and Blue Tour" posting consecutive winning seasons.
Under Cruz’s tutelage, over 25 players were offered scholarships or professional contracts. In 2010, he made his affiliated debut as the manager of the Peoria Padres, the Rookie Short Season A-ball affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
