Luis Cruz The Dodgers biggest pick up of 2012?
This year will go down as the year that the Dodgers have made some of the biggest moves in franchise history. All Star players like Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino, Adrian Gonzalez, and Josh Beckett have been acquired to bolster the lineup but one key acquisition that has been just as big as all those moves is Luis Cruz’s promotion to the Dodgers on July 2nd. Cruz has been the most consistent player in almost that two-month span since being called up. He is hitting .300, has moved over to third base and has done everything and beyond that was asked of him.
I had a chance to sit down with Cruz and ask him about his play this year and talk about the success he has enjoyed.
This has been a breakout year for you. Tell us a little how you approach each game?
I feel really good. I have been working hard for 12 years and I have been given the chance to play. I just go out and try to do my best every time I go up there. Every time I go hit I go like it’s my last at bat I’m going to get and I keep fighting until the end. I felt really good the day they gave me the opportunity to play.
Since your call up, you have been an everyday player. How does that change your approach?
Playing every day helps a lot. You see pitchers everyday; you get at bats every day. I am playing good for now, but if I need to sit down when other guys come, I will be ready for whatever happens. If I need to be on the bench, I will be ready for whenever they need me. I have been working taking ground balls at third, second, first, outfield so whenever they need me I’m ready.
What has been your experience with the fans been like?
The fans have supported me since the first day I came up without knowing me. They just knew that I was a Mexican guy and start cheering for me. This made me feel comfortable and helped me play better to be somebody good. I want to be a good example for the kids. The Dodgers have always had a lot of Mexican players like Juan Castro, Adrian Garcia, Fernando Valenzuela. It’s big for us. Even in Mexico a lot of Mexican people over there are Dodger fans just because there are a lot of Mexican people here. I feel happy that I’m here and I have been able to do my job and help the team win.
Luis Cruz has become so popular that he has inspired us to create an ”El Cochito” t-shirt design for him. The shirt is available now and ready for order at http://savethedodgers.bigcartel.com
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I was wondering why you guys put a pig on the shirt? Cochito doesn’t mean pig in spanish, that would be cochinito. Maybe there’s something I don’t know. I’ve just been wondering that. Any info on this would be great. Awesome interview by the way.
Yes its pig. Cochinito also pic, more like little pig
In Sonora Mexico, where he is from, they say ‘cochito’ instead of ‘cochinito’.