There is a first time for everything, even to defend the initial.
Dominican Nelson Cruz, who has not played defense since 2018, is in the starting eleven on Tuesday as the Rays ’first baseman, starting a two-game series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Creu has only defended the prairies in the Majors and in the minor leagues.
The 41-year-old gunner plays in the starting lineup for the first time for several reasons. First, the Rays are in a National League park and second, Ji-Man Choi joined the injured list.
Cruz returns to the team after not feeling well on August 22, when he joined the COVID-19 roster, before the last game in the series between Rays and White Sox. But it was not due to a positive test of the gunner, who is vaccinated against the coronavirus.