After yet another productive season at the age of 39, the Minnesota Twins are reportedly going to pick up slugger Nelson Cruz’s 2020 contract option, valued at $12 million.
Despite missing 42 games due to injury, Cruz was extremely productive in his fifteenth MLB season. He played in 120 games this season as the team’s top option at the designated hitter position. The Dominican slugger batted .311 on the season, swatting 41 home runs and accumulating 108 RBIs for the Twins’ potent offense.
Cruz became only the third player in the history of the franchise to reach the 40 home run plateau in a single season.
Not only was Cruz extremely productive at the plate, but he impressed with his ability to mentor young hitters during his first season as a Twin. Coaches say that he was crucial to helping the team’s young hitters find success and was a big reason that the team won the AL Central title this year.
Cruz, if he can remain healthy, is expected to once again enter into the 2020 season as the team’s starting designated hitter.
He will look to post yet another productive season at a relatively advanced age, a performance that is bucking the trend towards even younger players in today’s MLB.
