Baseballer Nelson Cruz visits Bronx schools

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The auditorium at IN-Tech Academy was filled with excitement as students waited for Seattle Mariners’ all-star outfielder and designated hitter Nelson Cruz to give a talk.

During his appearance on Nov. 10, Mr. Cruz spoke about his life and career, the importance of education, his foundation and used most of the time answering questions from students in English and Spanish. He was a hit with students at this Kingsbridge school, which serves grades six through 12.

“I wanted to come out today and speak with Nelson Cruz because he inspires me,” 12th grader Amin Calcano Marten said. “I’m a student-athlete and I play baseball and I look up to him.”

He said that he learned from Mr. Cruz “that if you have an achievement in your head and you want to achieve that goal, you have to take risks in life in order to achieve the goal that you want to achieve.”

Eighth-grader Jadesha Nicholls, who plays baseball and football, said she wanted to hear about his life experiences. “I wanted to see how he managed to do school and play baseball,” she said.

Sixth-grader Hazel De Lara said she was “surprised when he said that he wanted to become a lawyer.” During the question-and-answer session, a student asked what Mr. Cruz wanted to do after he retired from baseball.

The baseball player said his parents emphasized the importance of school. When he was initially recruited to play professional baseball in the 11th grade, his parents turned down the offer and insisted that he finish school.

“Both my parents are teachers and they [taught] me the importance of school, so that’s what I’m promoting,” said Mr. Cruz, who spoke with The Press before meeting with students. Mr. Cruz said that he was not happy about the choice at the time, but came to appreciate their decision.

“Even when you think your parents are being mean, they know what they are doing,” Mr. Cruz said. He also said before focusing on baseball, he also played basketball while growing up in the Dominican Republic.

Students asked about the most difficult part about moving to the United States. He answered that it was the food because it was different from what he usually ate.

Another asked who were some of the baseball players he looked up to while growing up. Mr. Cruz responded that they were Vladimir Guerrero and Ken Griffey, Jr. and that he had a chance to play with Mr. Guerrero and against Mr. Griffey, Jr. He called the experience “amazing.”

Mr. Cruz spoke with students earlier in the day at the Milton Fein School (P.S. 7) in Kingsbridge, where his niece is a student. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade. His other niece attends IN-Tech Academy.

In September, Mr. Cruz launched the Boomstick23 Foundation, a nonprofit, to provide baseball equipment to underserved schools in the United States and the Dominican Republic.

He is a four-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger Award for being the best hitter in his position in 2015, stated MLB.com.

“I always say when I do the speech to the kids to be a good student, respect all others, especially your teachers and your parents,” said Mr. Cruz on what he wanted students to take away after meeting with them.

In-Tech Academy, In-Tech, Nelson Cruz, Hazel De Lara, Hazel De Lara, Amin Calcano Marten, Lisa Herndon

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