User:TampaSpartansFan/sandbox

{{Infobox baseball biography }} Lee Cruz (born June 13, 1983, in Dade City, Florida) is a former American professional baseball player who last played as an outfielder with the Long Island Ducks. Cruz has played in spring training with a major league, many different minor and independent league teams over his career, reaching as high as Triple-A. He attended Pasco-Hernando State College. While at Pasco-Hernando State College he was named to the NJCAA Baseball Team and to the 2003 First-Team Suncoast Conference and NJCAA Baseball Team 2003 First-Team All State. Cruz transferred in 2005 to University of Tampa where he played baseball and was named the 2006 Division II College World Series MVP. He also earned Division II Player of the Year honors that season and broke the school’s record for career home runs, which was previously held by former Yankee Tino Martinez, with 26. Cruz was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent on June 7, 2006. . His professional career began in 2006 with the Great Falls White Sox of the rookie-level Pioneer League. In the White Sox organization, he played with six different teams from 2006 to 2010. He was selected by Baseball America as the Best Pure Hitter and Best Late-Round Pick among the team’s draft class.
 * name       = Lee Cruz
 * image      = Lee Cruz Pro Ballplayer 5-2012.jpg
 * team       = Long Island Ducks
 * number     = 25
 * position   = Left fielder/DH/First baseman
 * birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1983|6|13}}
 * birth_place = Dade City, Florida
 * bats       = Right
 * throws     = Right
 * debutdate  = June 8
 * debutyear  = 2006
 * debutteam  = Great Falls White Sox
 * statyear   = 2012
 * stat1label = Batting average
 * stat1value = .297
 * stat2label = Home runs
 * stat2value = 95
 * stat3label = Runs batted in
 * stat3value = 452
 * Minor leagues:
 * Great Falls White Sox (PION, {{baseball year|2006}})
 * Kannapolis Intimidators (SALL, {{baseball year|2007}})
 * Birmingham Barons (SOUL, {{baseball year|2008}})
 * Kannapolis Intimidators (SALL, {{baseball year|2009}})
 * Birmingham Barons (SOUL, {{baseball year|2009}})
 * Winston-Salem Warthogs (CARL, {{baseball year|2009}})
 * Birmingham Barons (SOUL, {{baseball year|2010}})
 * Lancaster JetHawks (CALL, {{baseball year|2010}})
 * Round Rock Express (PCL, {{baseball year|2010}})
 * Leones de Yucatan (MEX, {{baseball year|2012}})
 * Baltimore Orioles {MLB, {{baseball year|2012}})
 * Independent leagues:
 * Yuma Scorpions (GOBL, {{baseball year|2010}})
 * Amarillo Sox (AA, {{baseball year|2011}})
 * Kansas City T-Bones (AA. {{baseball year|2012}})
 * Long Island Ducks (ATLL, {{baseball year|2012}})
 * highlights   =
 * American Association League 2011 Player of the Year
 * American Association Batter of the Week May 22, 2011
 * NCAA Division II 2006 MVP College World Series
 * American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division II 2006 All-South Region Baseball as Player of the Year
 * American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division II 2006 All-South Region Baseball as a First Team Outfielder
 * University of Tampa 2006 First Team All-American Outfielder
 * American Baseball Coaches Association 2005 NCAA Division II Baseball Player of the Year
 * University of Tampa 2005 First Team All-American Third Baseman
 * Pasco-Hernando State College NJCAA Baseball Team 2003 First-Team Suncoast Conference
 * Pasco-Hernando State College NJCAA Baseball Team 2003 First-Team All State
 * University of Tampa Spartans Athletic Hall of Fame inductee
 * hofcolor     =
 * hoflink      =
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 * update       =

Amateur career
Cruz began his collegiate career with Pasco-Hernando State College. While at Pasco-Hernando State College he was named to the NJCAA Baseball Team and to the 2003 First-Team Suncoast Conference and NJCAA Baseball Team 2003 First-Team All State. Cruz transferred in 2005 to University of Tampa where he played baseball and was named the 2006 Division II College World Series MVP. He also earned Division II Player of the Year honors that season and broke the school’s record for career home runs, which was previously held by former Yankee Tino Martinez, with 26. While attending University of Tampa, Cruz was selected in the 10$th$ round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox, and was signed. .  The University of Tampa baseball program has produced a total of 93 selections in the MLB Draft, including 73 under current head coach Joe Urso. Since the 2006 campaign, which Cruz was MVP of the NCAA Division II National Championship Series, Tampa's had 65 draft picks along with four NCAA Division II National Championships.

Chicago White Sox organization (2006–2010)
After completing his 2006 season with University of Tampa, Cruz was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent. In 2006, he played at four different levels of the White Sox minor league organization. First with the rookie-level Great Falls White Sox of the PioneerLeague.

Great Falls White Sox (2006)
Cruz played for Great Falls White Sox from June 20, 2006 to September 5, 2006 with a batted .301 with 38 runs scored, 81 hits, 17 double, 6 triple, 5 home run, 39 runs batted in (RBIs) and 1 stolen bases in 69 games played. He ranked fourth in the Pioneer League in triples. He led the team in hits and at-bats (269) and ranked second in runs (38), total bases (125), RBIs and slugging percentage (.465). He ranked fourth among Chicago White Sox farmhands in average and sixth in slugging percentage. Cruz went 30-for-76 (.395) with runners in scoring position. In 2007 Tabbed by Baseball America. as the Best Pure Hitter, Best Late-Round Pick and Best Professional Debut among the White Sox 2006 draft class. On defense, Cruz played all of his 64 games in the outfield, committing 10 errors, 13 assists and 71 putouts. His fielding percentage was .894%.

Kannapolis Intimidators (2007)
Cruz was assigned to the Kannapolis Intimidators Classification ‘A’ team of the South Atlantic League for the 2007 season, from April 5, 2007 to September 3, 2007, with a batted .277 with 55 runs scored, 115 hits, 31 double, 5 triple, 10 home run, 56 runs batted in (RBIs) and 3 stolen bases in 108 games played. His on-base percentage OBP was .756%. On defense, Cruz played all of his 108 games in the outfield, committing 7 errors, 7 assists and 137 putouts. His fielding percentage was .954%.

Winston-Salem Warthogs (2008)
Cruz was promoted to the Winston-Salem Warthogs ‘Advanced A’ Classification team of the Carolina League for the 2008 Season. Playing for Winston-Salem from April 9, 2008 to June 15, 2008. Cruz batted .196 with 22 runs scored, 38 hits, 16 double, one triple, 2home run, 22 runs batted in (RBIs) and 11 stolen bases in 56 games played. On defense, played all of his 56 games in the outfield, committing 3 errors, and 52 putouts. His fielding percentage was .946%.

Kannapolis Intimidators, second assignment (2008)
Cruz was returned to the Kannapolis Intimidators from June 19, 2008 to June 23, 2008 for 5 games. During this short tenure he batted .050 with 3 runs scored, 1 hits, one double, no triple, no [home run]], 3 runs batted in (RBIs) and 1 stolen bases in 5 games played. On defense, played all of his 5 games in the outfield, committing no errors.

Birmingham Barons (2008)
Cruz was promoted to the Birmingham Barons ‘AA’ Classification of the Southern League from June 24, 2008 to August 30, 2008. Cruz batted .283 with eight runs scored, 13 hits, one double, one triple, one home run, four runs batted in (RBIs) and 11 stolen bases in 12 games played. On defense, played all of his 54 games in the outfield, committing no errors, seven assists and 78 putouts.

Birmingham Barons, second assignment (2009)
Cruz returned to the Birmingham Barons ‘AA’ Classification of the Southern League from April 11, 2009 to September 11, 2009. Cruz batted .256 with 28 runs scored, 58 hits, 18 double, no triple, 6 home run, 36 runs batted in (RBIs) and no stolen bases in 65 games played. On defense, played all of his 65 games in the outfield, committing no errors, seven assists and 54putouts.

Winston-Salem Warthogs, second assignment (2009)
Cruz was loaned to the Winston-Salem Warthogs ‘Advanced A’ Classification team of the Carolina League for the 2008 Season. Playing for Winston-Salem from May 18, 2009 and returned to Birmingham Barons on June 16, 2009. Cruz played in 26 games played games batted .263 with 14 runs scored, 25 hits, 8 double, no triple, 3 home run, 14 runs batted in (RBIs) and no stolen bases. On defense, played all of his 26 games in the outfield, committing 1 errors, and 18 putouts. His fielding percentage was .950%.

Birmingham Barons, third assignment (2010)
Cruz returned to the Birmingham Barons ‘AA’ Classification of the Southern League from April 8, 2010 to May 3, 2010. His third assignment to Birmingham Barons was for 21 games. Cruz played in 26 games played games batted .197 with 6 runs scored, 13 hits, 3 double, no triple, 1 home run, 6 runs batted in (RBIs) and no stolen bases.

Lancaster JetHawks (2010)
June 8, 2010 to June 20, 2010

Round Rock Express (2010)
June 21, 2010 to June 24, 2010

Leones de Yucatan (2012)
May 26, 2012 to June 28, 2010 Put on reserve list http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=502185#/career/R/hitting/2012/ALL

Baltimore Orioles (2012)
Baltimore Orioles signed Lee Cruz on December 16, 2011 to a minor league contract. Cruz reported to 2012 spring training for the Orioles.

Yuma Scorpians (2010)
During the 2010 season, Cruz began his tenure in the independent league circuit, signing with the Yuma Scorpions of the Golden Baseball League. Cruz lead the league in 2010 with a .433 batting average.

Amarillo Sox (2011)
Cruz signed with the Amarillo Sox of the American Association during April, 2011. He earned American Association Player of the Year honors with the Amarillo Sox after batting .344 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI, good for second in the league. Cruz was also second in the league in hits (144) while finishing first in total bases (242), double (38) and extra base hits (59). Cruz was tied for first with most games played (100). Cruz's doubles and hits totals rank second all-time in Amarillo independent baseball history. Cruz earned American Association Batter of the week for May 22, 2011.

Kansas City T-Bones (2012)
Cruz split time this 2012 season with the T-Bones and Yucatan in the Mexican League. In 70 combined games, he compiled a .345 batting average with 18 home runs, 94 RBI and 24 doubles.

Long Island Ducks (2012)
Cruz signed with the Long Island Ducks on August 28, 2012 for a last addition to assist in making the playoffs. . The Long Island Ducks beat the Lancaster Barnstormers in five games to win the 2012 Atlantic League Championship on October 7, 2012. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/55191/lee-cruz/

Personal life
Cruz was born on June 13, 1983, in Dade City, Florida. He has stated that he enjoys semi-pro baseball and coaching his children. Cruz enjoys returning to his Alma Mater when he is visiting family in tampa. He is a very approachable baseball player and athlete. Cruz enjoys talking to fans about baseball and generally all sports.