Mariners Sign Top Draft Pick Cruz; Terms Not Disclosed

Jose Cruz Jr., the No. 3 pick in the June baseball draft, has signed with the Mariners for undisclosed terms.

A statement issued by the team Wednesday said Cruz would work out with the Mariners next Monday through Wednesday and then be assigned to Class A Riverside of the California League on July 27.

“Jose will be a premium offensive player and should move quickly through our system,” said Roger Jongewaard, vice president of scouting and player development.

Cruz, 21, was an All-America the past three years at Rice and was named Southwest Conference player of the year this year after batting .377 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs. He is a switch-hitter.

Newson appreciative

The first time Warren Newson heard he was headed for Seattle, it didn’t happen.

“They were in Chicago last month and I heard stories then, but nothing happened” he said. “About the time I forgot about it, something happened.”

Newson showed up at Comiskey Park for work Tuesday and saw he wasn’t in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader. No big deal. But when he wasn’t in the lineup for Game 2, he grew suspicious.

“When they called me into the manager’s office, I knew I was gone,” Newson said.

After 4-1/2 seasons with the White Sox, the 31-year-old outfielder had been traded to Seattle for a minor-league player to be named. Newson didn’t have trouble joining his new team - he hopped in his car and drove the 90 minutes from Chicago to Milwaukee with his wife.

He arrived 4 hours before game time, saw his name in the lineup and beamed.

“In Chicago, every year they brought in someone ahead of me - Bo Jackson, Darrin Jackson, Mike Devereaux,” Newson said. “I always thought if I’d had the chance, had the at-bats, I could have produced.”

Newson was a good soldier and didn’t make demands. As a result, he never had more than 136 at-bats in a season and this spring signed the largest contract of his career: a one-year, $200,000 deal.

“I’m not a 25-30 home run guy, but in the minors I averaged between 15-20 homers,” Newson said. “In Chicago, my role was pinchhitter, pinch-runner, fourth or fifth outfielder. Every at-bat was a pressure at-bat because it was probably the only one I was going to get.

“Put me out there, I can get you some doubles, some home runs. I can play.”

For Chad Kreuter, the future is uncertain. By designating him for assignment Tuesday, the Mariners have 10 days to trade him, release him or assign him to the minor leagues.

Notes

Joey Cora leads the American League with eight sacrifice bunts… . In an 0-for-18 slump, outfielder Alex Diaz was given a game off. . . . Four Mariners pitchers have more strikeouts than innings pitched: Randy Johnson, Jeff Nelson, Bill Risley and Bobby Ayala.