In past seasons, Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz has been a lock to hit the disabled list at least twice, if not three times, during a season thanks to some kind of upper leg issue — either hamstring or quadriceps.
And while he's needed rest a couple of times this season to deal with some ailments, he has yet to hit the DL and it's approaching September. That, in itself, is an accomplishment for Cruz, but he's quietly putting together one of the better statistical seasons of his career.
With his RBI double in the fifth inning, Cruz set a career-high for doubles in a season with 32, breaking his 2010 total of 31. The RBI was his 74th of the season, which is just 13 shy of his career high of 87, set last season.
His average of .269 is actually better than two of his previous three seasons as a full-time player for the Rangers, only bested by his 2010 season when he hit .318. It seems we've come to the conclusion that that 2010 year was an outlier in regards to his batting average, and the .260s is more of what we can expect there with .275 being a banner year.
A lot of these career-bests are being approached and breached because of the fact he's simply been healthy this year and is only nine games away from tying his career-high for games played. That, in itself, is a victory for Cruz, who will be free after next season at 33 years old.
