SEATTLE -- Nelson Cruz has wasted no time making an impact in his first season with the Mariners, which is why the big right fielder has been selected as one of 13 finalists for Best Everyday Player in Major League Baseball for the Esurance MLB Awards.
Cruz is pushing to become the first player to lead the Majors in home runs in back-to-back seasons since Toronto's Jose Bautista in 2010-11, as he's on the heels of Chris Davis of the Orioles in this year's homer chase after leading MLB a year ago for Baltimore.