Nelson Cruz told reporters yesterday that he expects to be activated from the Texas Rangers disabled list Tuesday, the first day he is eligible to return.
Cruz has been out since the end of August, nursing a strained left hamstring. It was the second time Cruz was sidelined this season due to a strained leg muscle.
Hamstrings in particular have always bothered Cruz. Last year the slugger hit the DL three separate times with hammy problems.
Cruz’s confidence that he will be rejoining the Rangers Tuesday stems not as much from his level of recovery as from the fact that there’s little else Texas can do. The Minor League season is now over, so there is no injury rehab assignment for Cruz to be shipped off to.
Cruz admits that he’s not back to 100% and there’s a chance he won’t see the field immediately upon returning. The club could ease Cruz back into their lineup by pinch hitting him late or having him face pitchers in simulated games.
Regardless, the Rangers will be happy to have Cruz back on their active roster. Cruz has again been a force in the middle of Texas’s lineup. Over his 113 games played this season, Cruz has hit .270/.322/.531 with 28 home runs, 27 doubles and 84 RBI’s.
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