Nelson Cruz Injury: Updates on Mariners Star's Pelvis and Return

Seattle Mariners slugging outfielder/DH Nelson Cruz left June 22's game against the Kansas City Royals due to a pelvic injury. He would return to the lineup the following day, the team announced.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon tried to describe the injury following Monday's game, via Andrew Erickson of MLB.com, "I'm not sure how to describe it, but his pelvic bone kind of popped out of place and he had some discomfort." 

Dustin Ackley replaced Cruz in the seventh inning of Monday's game. Cruz went 0-for-2 before exiting with what was initially thought to be a hamstring injury prior to McClendon's clarification.

He recently suffered back spasms that forced him to leave a June 9 game and miss the following tilt against the Cleveland Indians.

Cruz has been atop the American League home run chart for much of the 2015 season, enjoying a successful first year with the Mariners, which are struggling in the AL West. He is currently second in the AL with 19 home runs. For the season, Cruz is hitting .313 and has driven in 44 runs. 

Last season, in his only year with the Baltimore Orioles, Cruz led the league with 40 home runs and was fourth with 108 RBI. The big year helped him pen a four-year, $57 million deal with the Mariners in December 2014.