Enrique

Cruz

Cruz, the first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft, should make the Brewers as a reserve infielder. Neither of the other players have a chance of making an impact this year. Gold, a 1998 first-round pick who has been injured for almost his entire career, is lucky to still be on the 40-man roster.

Cruz, who spent 2003 in the majors after being taken in the Rule 5 draft, hit .283/.347/.476 for Single-A High Desert last season. He’ll head to Double-A this year.

We have no idea what the reasoning is behind this move. ''Enrique has a bright future,’' Brewers GM Doug Melvin said. ''The opportunity to guarantee his earnings as well as secure his future made this a good decision for our organization.’' Yeah, sure. Cruz, who is being kept on the 25-man roster this year because he was a Rule 5 pick, almost surely will head back to the minors next year.

Cruz went hitless, leaving him 0-for-15 on the season.

Cruz was up briefly last month, but it’s doubtful that he’ll receive any additional opportunities. If he was going to turn into a useful player, it would have happened by now.

The Brewers felt they could get Cruz through waivers without anyone claiming him because of the two-year contract extension they gave him during June. Cruz, 22, spent last season in the majors after being taken from the Mets in the Rule 5 draft and hit .085 in 71 at-bats. He’ll probably play for Double-A Huntsville next season.

An odd choice to take Alex Gonzalez’s roster spot. Cruz spent all of 2003 in the majors as a Rule 5 pick, but he had barely been heard from since. Perhaps the Reds are calling him up because he’ll be the easiest infielder to get through waivers after Gonzalez returns.

Cruz got one at-bat and committed an error in two innings in the field while occupying Alex Gonzalez’s roster spot.

Cruz, who spent last year in the majors after being taken from the Mets in the Rule 5 draft, has been a disappointment this year, getting demoted to High Desert after batting .188 in 35 games for Double-A Huntsville. He’s not much of a prospect.

Cruz, the first overall pick in the Dec. 2002 Rule 5 draft, appears to be nearly hopeless now. The 24-year-old was hitting .261/.320/.377 in 69 AB for Triple-A Nashville. The Rangers have better utility infield candidates.