Another pitcher is leaving the Spanish Division de Honor to play in the Italian Baseball League. The 26-year-old Jose Estebin Cruz is making the move from the Spanish champion CB Sant Boi to join Danesi Nettuno, which had missed the playoffs for a second straight year. At the beginning of the week, T&A San Marino had announced that they have signed southpaw Ivan Granados of the Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz.
Cruz is a switch-hitting outfielder and a right-handed pitcher. This year he had a 9-2 record with an ERA of 1.17 in 17 appearances on the mound (ten starts). He struck out 90 batters in 84 2/3 innings, while walking 39. He also batted .396 (OBP .464/SLG .563) with ten runs and eight RBI in 48 at-bats through 31 games. In 2006 and 2007 the Santo Domingo native played for the Detroit Tigers affiliate in the Dominican Summer League.
Photo: © Diego Lazaro