Who is new Rays 1B/DH C.J. Cron? 10 things to know

Acquired Saturday night from the Angels (for a player to be named – a minor-leaguer, and not a top prospect), 1B/DH C.J. Cron is expected to join the Rays today in Port Charlotte.

Here are 10 things to know about him:

1. Full name: Christopher John Cron.

2. Bio material: Is 28. … Born in Fullerton, Calif. … Went to Mountain Pointe High in Phoenix then the University of Utah, majoring in business. … Pronounced Kroan – rhymes with groan. … Will wear No. 44, had 24 with Angels.

3. Contract status: Signed for $2.3-million. .. Under Rays control through 2020. .. Is out of options so can't be sent to the minors.

RELATED: Rays trade Odorizzi to Twins, DFA Dickerson, acquire Cron from Angels

4. Family affair: His father, Chris Cron, played 12 pro seasons as mostly a corner infielder and made two quick trips to the majors, playing six games for the Angels in 1991 and six for the White Sox in 1992, and is a minor-league coach for the D-backs. … His brother, Kevin, is a slugging prospect for Arizona, who was named MVP of the Double-A Southern League and minor-league player of the year for D-backs. … Is cousins with Chad Moeller, who played nine seasons in the majors.

5. Draft report: First-round pick – 17th overall – in 2011 draft, the one where Rays had 10 picks from 24 to 60. In it's preview, Baseball America called him "the best all-around hitter in the country." … Drafted out of Mountain Pointe (Az.) High in 2008, 44th round, but didn't sign.

6. Hall of Fame block: Cron has spent parts of the last four seasons sharing time between the majors and Triple-A, but his opportunity was limited for somes reasons he couldn't control – such as being on the same team as future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.

7. The Ohtani impact: What does the Rays getting Cron have to do with Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani? Plenty, since Ohtani signed with the Angels and with Cron gone he now has an avenue to get at-bats at first base or DH when not pitching, as the Angels also have Pujols and Luis Valbuena.

RELATED: What were Rays thinking in ditching Dickerson and Odorizzi, adding Cron

8. Numbers game: Cron is coming off arguably the worst of his four major-league seasons, though foot injuries were a factor, as he hit .248 with 16 homers, 56 RBI and a .741 OPS in 100 games. Overall he has a .262 average, 59 homers and .756 OPS. The Rays like his righthanded power – considered almost on par with Mark Trumbo  with plans to play him at either first base or DH against all lefties and some righthanders.

9. Key stat: Though Cron would seem a platoon partner for lefty swinging Brad Miller, Cron actual hits better vs. righthanders:
vs. LHP .248 avg., .288 OBP, .429 SLG, .716 OPS
vs. RHP .268 avg.. .315 OBP, .457 SLG, .772 OPS

10. Big day: Rapped six hits on July 2, just the third Angel to do so, joining Chone Figgins and Garret Anderson, and the first to score five runs in a game. By the end of the night, he became the sixth player in baseball history with at least six hits, five runs and five RBI in a game. The others: Shawn Green, Edgardo Alfonzo, Cal Ripken Jr., Larry Walker and Walker Cooper.