The Gary SouthShore RailCats add to their already impressive infield with the signing of Michael Cruz.
“Alongside his experience, Cruz brings a lot of energy and positivity, which is very much what I’m about,” manager Lamarr Rogers said. “His personality and skillset should resonate well with our offense and defense. I’m excited to welcome him to the team.”
Cruz, 26, played one season at Bethune-Cookman University after stellar stints at Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and Clarendon College. A high school All-American, he arrived at Bethune-Cookman following All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference and Baseball I All-American Second Team selections as a freshman in 2014. As a Wildcat, Cruz batted .325 with 16 home runs, 41 runs batted in, 65 hits, 50 runs, 38 bases on balls, a .461 on-base percentage, a .605 slugging percentage, and a .995 fielding percentage. In addition to receiving All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference First Team honors, he also led Bethune-Cookman to the 2016 MEAC Tournament Championship and an appearance in the Division I NCAA National Tournament.
On the heels of his junior season, the Chicago Cubs selected Cruz in the 7th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. Over the next two seasons, he rose through the team’s farm system and made it to the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans just two years later. His 2018 season was his finest as a Cubs farmhand as he recorded 12 home runs, 48 RBI, 73 hits, 25 doubles, and 26 walks.
That offseason, Cruz joined the Angels organization, where he got assigned to the High-A Inland Empire 66ers. After impressing at that level, he earned a promotion to the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas when Minor League Baseball resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Most recently, Cruz made the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees Opening Day roster earlier this month and roped an RBI double against the Tacoma Rainiers on April 7th.
The RailCats 2022 season begins at the Steel Yard on Friday, May 20 vs Lincoln Saltdogs. Season tickets packages and group outings for the 2022 season can be reserved by calling 219-882-2255 or emailing info@railcatsbaseball.com.
