Jasseel

De La Cruz

De La Cruz has yet to reach the majors and wound up posting an ugly 7.18 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 28/12 K/BB ratio across 26 1/3 innings (20 appearances, five starts) last year in the Braves’ minor league system. The 25-year-old right-hander is a speculative pickup for the rebuilding Athletics.

De La Cruz was horrible in 2021 with a 7.03 ERA over 56 /13 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett. The former intriguing prospect will get another chance in 2022, but doesn’t offer any type of fantasy significance.

De La Cruz posted a rough 7.03 ERA in 56 1/3 innings this summer at the Triple-A level. The 24-year-old right-hander has yet to appear in a major league game.

De La Cruz was called up on Saturday, but didn’t end up making an appearance. The 23-year-old will have to wait until next time for his major league debut.

De La Cruz spent time in the major leagues last September, but didn’t end up making his major-league debut. The 23-year-old righty made one appearance at Triple-A Gwinnett prior to his promotion. He’ll give the Braves some additional bullpen reinforcement after they were forced to cover 8 1/3 innings during Friday’s blowout loss to the Phillies.

De La Cruz, 23, was added to the Braves’ 40-man roster last fall after putting up a 3.25 ERA, 1.135 WHIP, and 121/49 K/BB ratio in 133 innings between three different levels in the minors. He’ll be making his MLB debut when he gets into a game.

De La Cruz, 21, walked two and struck out four. It’s the first no-hitter in Fire Frogs’ franchise history. The right-hander has been excellent in 2019 with a 2.15 ERA over eight starts, and since being promoted from Low-A, that mark sits at 1.93 with a 26/7 K/BB ratio over four appearances. De La Cruz projects as a mid-rotation starter who also has a chance to pitch out of the bullpen; as the stuff should play up in shorter stints.

De La Cruz scattered four hits, and he issued two walks in the strong start. The scoreless outing lowers his ERA in the Southern League to 2.92, and his overall mark to 2.55 when you count his work with Low-A Rome and High-A Florida. He’s also struck out 95 hitters over 95 1/3 innings against 35 walks, and the 21-year-old has looked the part while doing it. There’s a chance he may need to move to the bullpen if the command doesn’t improve, but the stuff is good enough for De La Cruz to be a mid-rotation starter -- maybe better.

De La Cruz allowed two runs on three hits, and he walked two. Since being promoted to the Florida State League, the 21-year-old has a 15/3 K/BB ratio in two starts over 12 innings with a 2.25 ERA. Signed in June of 2015, De La Cruz has a mid 90s fastball, and that plus pitch is complemented with a solid slider along with a change that has made progress every year. He could be a relief candidate, but the Braves should give the 21-year-old a chance to start. Even in a system that is stacked with pitching, De La Cruz has a chance to develop into a starter that you can put into the middle of a rotation.

De La Cruz posted a 3.25 ERA, 1.135 WHIP, and 121/49 K/BB ratio in 133 innings (24 starts, one relief appearance) this past season between three different levels of the Braves’ minor league system. The 22-year-old right-hander is now protected from next month’s Rule 5 Draft.