The Texas Rangers have issued a response to a Miami New Times article that alleges slugger Nelson Cruz was a client at a clinic that sold performance-enhancing drugs.
The report alleges, based on a list of clients and other information brought forward by a former employee of the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic, that the clinic sold performance enhancing drugs including human growth hormone, testosterone and anabolic steroids.
The New Times reported the client list to include a number of high-profile athletes including Cruz, Alex Rodriguez, Bartolo Colon and Melky Cabrera, among others.
"The Texas Rangers were contacted late last week by Miami New Times regarding the story posted this morning. At that time, the Rangers contacted Major League Baseball on that inquiry. The team has no further comment."
According to the Miami New Times article, the chief of the clinic, Anthony Bosch, wrote in a 2012 notebook that he sold $4,000 worth of "product" to the Rangers slugger. Below is an excerpt of the Miami New Times report:
But there are also several prominent professionals in Bosch's records who have never before been linked to steroid use. According to his July 2012 client sheet, Bosch sold $4,000 of product to Nelson Cruz, whom he nicknames "Mohamad." Cruz, the power-hitting Dominican outfielder for the Texas Rangers, has whacked 130 bombs in his eight-year career without any links to performance-enhancing drugs. Until now. Bosch writes in his 2012 book: "Need to call him, go Thur to Texas, take meds from April 5-May 5, will owe him troches and... and will infuse them in May."
NBC 5 has been unable to verify any of the information included in the Miami New Times article, and Cruz has never failed a drug test in his eight seasons in the majors.
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The New Times report said it tried to contact Cruz for comment through the Rangers, but that there was no response.
Many Rangers fans in Arlington said they were disappointed to hear of the allegations.
"This has been a problem in baseball for a while, and for [Cruz] to continue to do it, in my mind, shows poor judgment," fan John Brewer said. "As a Rangers fan, I'm disappointed in that."
Justin Marshall, another fan, agreed.
"I'm very disappointed," he said. "I would have never expected it and never guessed it."
Other fans were a bit more understanding.
"I kind of understand if it was just to get back from the injuries," J.W. Doane said. "I mean, I think the guy is big enough to where he doesn't need a big advantage performance-wise."
Rangers fan Tim McClarty said steroid use has become an unfortunate part of professional baseball.
"You can't just point one finger at him," he said. "It has happened to a lot of people. It's happening, and I can understand the pressures that they're under to perform."
A spokesperson for Alex Rodriguez denied the allegation in a report published on MLB.com, saying "the purported documents referenced in the story -- at least as they relate to Alex Rodriguez -- are not legitimate" and that A-Rod was never a patient of Bosch.
Cabrera and Colon were both suspended last year for violating MLB PED policy.
In light of the allegations, Rangers fan Tim McClarty is making a plea to all baseball players.
"I'm hoping these players eventually realize that they're role models for our kids and straighten up," he said.
