Washington Nationals new slugger Nelson Cruz is a home run threat every time he steps into the batter’s box.
His imposing stature makes facing him an incredibly difficult task for any given pitcher.
He may be 41 years old, but his power stroke remains among the best in all of baseball and he is showing no signs of slowing down, even in his old age.
And one stat in particular shows that Cruz is still the top slugger in the entire league.
Over the past five seasons, Cruz has popped 165 home runs, which just so happens to be the most in all of baseball during that stretch.
Most home runs in the last 5 years:
1. Nelson Cruz 165 HR
2. J.D. Martinez 159
3. Nolan Arenado 158
4. Eugenio Suarez 155
5. Aaron Judge 154
6. Joey Gallo 151
7. Bryce Harper 146
8. Manny Machado 146
9. Jose Ramirez 144
t-10. Matt Olson 142
t-10. Mike Trout 142— MLB Metrics (@MLBMetrics) March 24, 2022
“Boomstick”
He just doesn’t stop.
Cruz is so dangerous and imposing when he steps up to the plate.
His advanced age hasn’t stopped him, and nobody seems to have the answer.
In every season since 2014, he has hit at least 30 home runs, with the exception of the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
He belted 32 home runs last season with the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays, hitting for a .265 average and knocking in 86 runs.
It’ almost as if he is incapable of declining.
Age has not slowed him down in the slightest, and he has given no indication that he’s ready to call it quits anytime soon.
Though the preseason predictions aren’t very kind to the Nationals, “Boomstick” will be sharing a lineup with Juan Soto and Josh Bell, creating a fearsome middle of the order for Washington.
Who knows if it will help them contend, but one thing is for sure, and that is that Cruz is still the game’s top slugger and isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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