Deivi Cruz #8

Attended Liceo Aliro Paulino Nizao School in native Dominican Republic...played every position but catcher during minor league career...in 2003, was voted "Favorite New Oriole" by Oriole Advocates, a non-profit group of volunteers...makes his off-season home in Nizao de Bani, Dominican Republic...name is pronounced DAY-vee.

2005

Began the season with San Francisco and was traded to the Washington Nationals prior to the August 31 trade deadline ... Batted .268 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 81 games for the Giants and .255 with one RBI in 20 games for the Nationals ... Appeared in 101 games on the year and started 58, his fewest games played since becoming a Major Leaguer ... As a starter batted .271 (64-for-236). Went 5-for-24 (.208) as a pinch hitter with a double, triple and home run. Pinch homer came on 5/26 vs. LA, a 10-2 Giant win ... Made just four errors in the field, appearing at second base, third base and shortstop with 285 total chances ... Had three singles on 5/19 at COL and 6/5 at NY, both starts at short. Doubled twice on 7/16 at LA and drove in one run ... Went 5-for-5 with five RBI 8/16 at CIN, including a double and home run. The five RBI matched a career high (7/31/03 at MIN) ... Started 13 games for the Nationals and was 2-for-6 in WSH debut at ATL.

2004

Was one of SF's unsung heroes, signing with club at end of Spring Training and emerging as Giants' starting shortstop...was not on Opening Day roster, and did not have contract purchased from triple-A Fresno until April 26...however, by year's end, had played in 127 contests while making 93 starts at shortstop...logged 2nd-highest avg. of career at .292 (behind only .302 figure in 2000), while his 30 doubles marked 3rd-highest total and helped Giants establish new franchise record for 2-baggers in season...his .290 avg. as shortstop was 2nd-highest among all NL players at position, trailing only PIT's Jack Wilson (.308)...was excellent in clutch, batting .333 (35-for-105) with RISP during 1st season in which he played for winning club...was also club's top performer off bench, leading SF in both pinch hits and pinch RBI by going 8-for-23 (.348) with 5 driven in...displayed steady glovework, committing just 8 errors in 403 chances (.980 fielding pct.)...established career high with 5 hits June 23 vs. LA, tying franchise record with 3 2Bs while going 5-for-5 with 3 runs and 2 RBI...had hits in 8 straight at-bats June 22 through 1st at-bat June 24 (all vs. Dodgers), becoming 1st Giant since Livan Hernandez in 2001 to record 8 consecutive hits (8-for-8 with sac bunt)...NL record is 10 consecutive hits (most recently by CIN's Bip Roberts in 1992), while ML mark is 12...collected 1,000th career hit Aug. 21 off Mets' Bartolome Fortunato, his final safety in 4-for-7 day.

2003

Was starting shortstop in Baltimore, batting .250 with 24 2Bs, career-high 14 HRs and 65 RBI (2nd-most in career) over 152 games...marked 4th time in last 5 years he has logged more than 150 games...ranked 4th among AL shortstops with .975 fielding pct. and in total chances (650), while ranking 5th in games played (147)...was 4th-toughest man to strike out in AL, fanning just once every 11.7 plate appearances...however, free-swinger had just 13 walks, fewest ever by an Oriole player with 502 or more plate appearances...struggled out of gate, batting .167 with 2 HRs and 11 RBI over his 1st 26 games of season...beginning May 9, hit at .269 clip (120-for-446) with 12 HRs and 54 RBI over his final 125 outings...clubbed pair of solo HRs June 7 at St. Louis, 2nd career multi-HR game...logged season-high 13-game hitting streak (2 short of career high) June 24-July 9, during which he batted .308 (16-for-52)...recorded career-best 5 RBI July 31 at Minnesota.

2002

Signed as free agent with San Diego and logged 151 games overall for Friars, ranking 2nd on club for both games played and 2Bs (28)...committed just 15 errors in 147 games (133 starts) at shortstop after 6 different Padres used at position combined for 42 miscues in 2001...SD defense also turned 162 double plays to rank 7th in NL, up from 127 twin-killings and 15th-place ranking in '01...with 47 RBI, drove in more runs than any other SD shortstop since Chris Gomez posted 54 RBI in 1997...batted .327 (18-for-55) with 3 2Bs, 3B and 6 RBI during career-high 15-game hitting streak May 17-June 2...played 1st base for 1st time in career June 24 vs. San Francisco, entering in 8th inning and handling 4 chances flawlessly...tied for 3rd in NL with .500 avg. with bases loaded, going 6-for-12 with grand slam (May 23 at Philadelphia, off Randy Wolf).

2001

Was Detroit's regular shortstop for 5th consecutive season...despite playing in career low 110 games, set career highs with 17 walks and 4 stolen bases...batted .256 overall, but raised mark to .311 (55-for-177) with men on base and .294 (30-for-102) with RISP...was placed on 15-day Disabled List June 8 with fractured bone in left foot...after rehab stint with single-A Erie, was activated July 18.

2000

Posted career highs in avg. (.302), hits (176), runs (68), 2Bs (46), 3Bs (5) and RBI (82)...led Detroit in avg. and 2Bs...in fact, 46 2Bs ranked 3rd in AL and were most by Tiger since George Kell's 56 in 1950...registered 55 multi-hit games, most since Alan Trammell had 64 in 1987...batted .345 (48-for-139) against left-handers to rank 8th in AL...also hit at .349 clip (96-for-245) with runners on base, 9th-highest in AL, while logging .307 mark (50-for-163) with RISP...was toughest regular to strike out in junior circuit, fanning just once every 14.3 at-bats...lifted season avg. above .300 with blistering .349 mark (37-for-108) in September...doubled in 4-straight at-bats Aug. 19-20 vs. Oakland.

1999

Posted career-best .983 fielding pct. for 2nd straight year, ledger which ranked 2nd among AL shortstops and 3rd in big leagues at position...went 42 games without committing error July 30-Sept. 14...tallied 37 hits in September/October (2 games), for highest 1-month total in Tigers franchise history...batted .346 over span (107 at-bats) with 6 HRs and 22 RBI...was hitting just .223 (23-for-103) through May 21, but batted .299 (124-for-415) with 30 2Bs, 13 HRs and 54 RBI thereafter...at season's end, led Detroit in 2Bs (35), multi-hit games (41) and games (155)...ranked 2nd on club with 147 hits...laid down 14 sacrifice bunts, 2nd-most in AL.

1998

Suffered left ankle fracture playing Winter Ball, subsequently missing all of Spring Training and most of April...was activated by Detroit on April 27 after rehabilitation stints with single-A Lakeland and triple-A Toledo...closed season on strong note, batting .299 (49-for-164) with 12 2Bs in his final 48 contests...posted .983 fielding pct., 4th among all ML shortstops...made just 1 error in 1st 31 games of season and only 2 in his final 42.

1997

Went from Rule V draftee by Los Angeles to finishing 4th in AL Rookie of Year balloting as Detroit's starting shortstop...was dealt to Tigers in December and earned starting role with strong showing in Spring Training...started 133 games for Tigers and became just 3rd rookie shortstop since 1965 to commit 13 or fewer errors in season, joining Dick Schofield (12 in 1984) and Ozzie Guillen (12 in 1985)...ranked among AL rookie leaders in hits (3rd -105), and 2Bs (3rd - 26)...dropped down 14 sacrifice bunts, 2nd-most in AL...collected 1st career hit (off Brad Radke) on Opening Day, April 1 at Minnesota...slugged 1st career HR, 2-run shot June 2 at Oakland (off Steve Karsay)...recorded 48-game errorless streak June 23-Aug. 20, longest by Tiger shortstop since Ed Brinkman's club-record 72-game streak in 1972...rated by Baseball America as owning 3rd-best infield arm in AL.

1996

In final year with Giants' organization, made successful conversion from 3rd base to shortstop while playing at single-A Burlington...led Midwest League with .980 fielding pct. and 427 assists...in fact, .980 fielding mark was best in Midwest League history...ranked by Baseball America as circuit's 10th-best prospect following season.

1995

Led Northwest League 3rd basemen in fielding pct. (.941) and putouts (47) at single-A Bellingham...also ranked among league leaders in batting (9th - .296) and 2Bs (2nd - 17).

1994

Hit .302 during 2nd season with SF affiliate in Arizona Summer League...missed month due to mid-season surgery to repair left knee ligament.

1993

Began professional career with rookie-level Scottsdale, leading club with .341 average over 28 games.