Lance Berkman joins Jose Cruz Jr.’s Rice Baseball staff
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- February 28, 2025
Former Astros great is a volunteer assistant
HOUSTON – Shortly after Rice University’s baseball team finished batting practice at Daikin Park, several players gathered around Astros great Lance Berkman and Rice head coach Jose Cruz Jr. on Thursday night along the left field line. The Owls paid close attention as the former Rice and Astros teammates gave instructions.
By all accounts, Berkman and Cruz are the two greatest players in Rice baseball history. Now, they’re trying to help the school relive the baseball glory they built three decades ago.
Cruz Jr., the son of Astros legend Jose Cruz, was the recruit who ushered Wayne Graham’s program to prominence. Berkman was the superstar slugger who proved that more high-end talent was on the way 30 years ago.
Berkman is serving as a special adviser/volunteer assistant this season with the Owls, who are competing at the Houston Astros Foundation’s College Classic this weekend.
‘Coming home’
“It kind of feels like coming home a little bit,” Berkman said. “Getting to help Jose Cruz Jr. out is great because we played together at Rice and also here. Knowing him for 30 years, he’s been great to (let me) just come in and help out wherever I can.
“It’s been a lot of fun. They’ve got a really good team. We’ve got some growth to do, but I’m excited about this season.”
Cruz is in his fourth season as his alma mater’s head coach. Berkman, who spent the previous three seasons as Houston Christian’s head baseball coach, is in his first as a volunteer at his alma mater.
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The Los Angeles Angels’ Anthony Rendon is the only other former Rice star who rates along with Cruz and Berkman among the greatest baseball players in school history. Cruz began re-writing Rice’s offensive record books as a freshman in 1993, when he was named national Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Baseball.
Berkman arrived on campus in the fall of 1994 and played his first season in the spring of 1995. Cruz was named the 1995 National Player of the Year before becoming the third overall pick in the MLB Draft. They roomed together on the road in 1995 while helping Rice reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
Two years later, Berkman was the National Player of the Year and the 16th overall pick in the draft by the Astros. The selection proved to be a steal, considering Berkman became a six-time All-Star and an Astros Hall of Famer. He led the Astros to their first World Series appearance in 2005 and then won a championship ring in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
‘Hearts in right place’
Berkman rewrote Rice’s offensive record book while leading the Owls to their first College World Series appearance in 1997. Six years later, the Owls won the school’s first national championship.
Now, Cruz and Berkman are trying to help Rice rejoin the college baseball elite.
“Our hearts are in the right place,” Cruz said. “We love the program. We love what the program has done for us, and we loved our experience in the program. All those sentiments we share, and that’s why we’re back.
“We love being around these guys. The enthusiasm is always really, really fun for us, and we feel like we have a lot to offer them just beyond baseball, but in life and just to create successful young men. It’s something that fills our soul, and we’re happy to be here.”
Between Cruz and Berkman, they have 27 years of big league experience combined and 570 career home runs. Berkman (366) and Cruz (204) are the top two leaders in MLB home runs by former Rice players.
More importantly, perhaps, they exemplify the promise of attending Rice University, the most prestigious academic institution in the Southwest.
They both left school after their junior years, which is common for top MLB draft picks. They returned to Rice to complete their degrees after they retired from MLB. Their names resonate with baseball recruits, especially kids from the Houston area.
‘A joker’
“It’s awesome that we get to learn from a Houston great,” sophomore catcher Landon West said of Berkman. “As a Houston native, it’s really awesome. He’s got good knowledge for us. He’s helping propel our program forward.”
Not surprisingly for anybody who played with Berkman or covered him at Rice or in the majors, he keeps it loose.
West, a graduate of nearby Katy Tompkins High, describes Berkman as “a joker” when they’re not playing. Berkman’s personality changes once the games start, though.
“He’s all about business,” West said of Berkman. “He’s very serious when it comes to game time, but whenever it’s in practice and early work he’s always having fun, cracking jokes. He makes it a great environment for the guys.”
Cruz has challenged Berkman to help keep him “in line.” Berkman is also serving as the proverbial sounding board for Cruz.
“For me,” Cruz said, “it’s great (to have) a guy I can trust.”
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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