Cruz Jr. Is First JetHawk to Reach Major Leagues

It’s official: outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. is the first former JetHawk to play in the major leagues.

Cruz was promoted from triple-A Tacoma, Wash., on Saturday and was playing left field, and batting second, for the Seattle Mariners against the Detroit Tigers Saturday night.

He was hitless in four at-bats, but did drive in a run with a groundout in a 4-2 loss.

The Mariners’ first-round pick in 1995, Cruz began last season in Lancaster. He hit .325 with the JetHawks and was promoted at the all-star break. He began the second half in double A and finished the season in triple A.

This spring, he made a run at an opening day roster spot in Seattle, but was a late cut. He was hitting .268 with six homers and 30 RBIs in Tacoma when he got the call.