FACTS/FLUKES: N. Cruz, Mahle, Pederson, Mikolas, Chavis

Cruz has been a disappointment … After spending 2006-21 in the American League, Nelson Cruz (DH, WAS) signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Nationals in March 2022. Things haven’t gone according to plan, as he owns a .237 batting average with just 4 HR in 192 PA. What’s going on here?

Year   PA  HR    BA/xBA  bb%/ct% GB/LD/FB  h% HctX   PX/xPX hr/f Brl%  HH%
====  ===  ==  ========= ======= ========  == ====  ======= ==== ====  ===
2018  591  37  .256/.266   9/76  44/18/39  27  119  139/123  24%  14%  52%
2019  521  41  .311/.281  11/71  40/20/40  35  129  177/156  31%  20%  52%
2020  214  16  .303/.267  12/69  46/23/31  36  107  164/113  41%  15%  47%
2021  584  32  .265/.260   9/75  43/18/39  29  118  128/113  21%  14% ...

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