Ruben Cruz played four seasons, made high-A with Astros
The Orlando Sentinel assessed the high-A Osceola Astros' first half in 1992, singling out several players, including Ruben Cruz.
Cruz was hitting .258 by mid-June and had knocked in 31 runs, The Sentinel wrote.
"There has been a new star every day," Osceola manager Sal Butera told The Sentinel of the group.
Cruz hit in that season in his third campaign as a pro. He would see just one more. He topped out there at high-A Osceola.
Cruz' career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the 45th round of the draft out of his native Puerto Rico.
He played his first season largely in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 39 games. He also saw one game at high-A Osceola. He hit .254 on the year.
Cruz then moved to single-A Burlington for 1991. He hit a home run in a July game, a three-run triple in another that month, then a pinch-hit home run in an August contest.
Overall, Cruz got into 114 games for Burlington in 1991 and hit .278, with eight home runs.
Cruz played 1992 at high-A Osceola. He hit .247 in 108 games. He then returned there for 1993. In 79 games there that year, he hit .251. He knocked in two runs in a May game. That season, though, proved his last as a pro.
Made the Majors:1,431-31.7%
Never Made Majors:3,087-68.3%-X
