Nelson Cruz, a 2005 debutant with the Milwaukee Brewers, 18 years after his debut, has amassed an impressive 459 home runs at a batting average of 0.274 along with over 2,000 hits. With Albert Pujols retiring from the game at the age of 42 at the conclusion of 2022, Cruz stands as the oldest and most experienced batter in the entire league. And most recently, the San Diego Padres have managed to get their hand on the experienced, hard-hitting, 42-year-old designated hitter.

In March 2022, Cruz signed a $12 million contract with the Washington Nationals. His season was average at best, with Cruz hitting 10 home runs, with 64 runs batted in through 124 games. At the end of the season, the Nationals chose to let him go. And now, Cruz has signed a significantly lower (91% decrease), $1 million contract with San Diego Padres for one year.

Even at the age of 42, Nelson Cruz finds a landing spot

Now, imagine an outfield with the power of Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, and bright young prospect Trent Grisham. An infield with Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, South Korean sensation Ha-Seong Kim, and another bright prospect (2x All-Star) Jake Cronenworth. This young line-up will now be seconded by the experience and unfathomable power-hitting ability of 42-year Nelson Cruz.

A line-up of this quality is fierce and unexplainably strong, to say the very least. “Here comes the Boomstick!”, exclaimed the Padres, in an official tweet announcing the arrival of Cruz.

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“When Did Padres Become Yankees of the West?”– San Diego Padres’ $280 Million Move Has Fans Bewildered by Their Potential 2023 Lineup

As Cruz prepares to make an appearance in a managerial position, for the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic, he will reunite with teammates Manny Machado (Baltimore Orioles) and Juan Soto (Washington Nationals) in the upcoming MLB season.

World Championship talks have already begun in San Diego

In 2022, even without the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr., and now Nelson Cruz, the Padres managed the National League Championship Series. With the entry and reentry of Tatis and Cruz respectively, do you think the Padres will be unstoppable? However, fans are excited, regardless.

At what position will the Padres conclude in 2023? Will they make it to the World Series this time, and win their first-ever World Championship ring? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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