Oscar De La Cruz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #19 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: De la Cruz first flashed potential in the short-season Northwest League in 2015, when as 20-year-old he ranked second in the league with 73 strikeouts. He ranked as one of the Cubs' Top 10 prospects three times after his breakout year but never advanced past Double-A before being released in May 2020. The Mets signed him in November as a priority minor league free agent.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Cubs developed de la Cruz as a starter until the second half of the 2019 season, when he moved to the Double-A Tennessee bullpen. His stuff played well in the role--he struck out 49 and walked nine in 37.1 innings with a 1.10 WHIP--and the Mets intend to keep him in a relief role. De la Cruz is a physical freak. His 6-foot-7 stature, long arms and plus extension help his four-seam fastball play up. He sat 92 mph as a starter but as a reliever pitches at 94 and touches 97, delivering the ball from a lower three-quarters arm slot and from the far third base side of the rubber. De la Cruz's mid-80s straight changeup deceives hitters because it doesn't have the expected fade or bore. A lack of a trusted breaking ball limited him in the rotation but isn't as big an issue in the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Mets believe de la Cruz has middle reliever upside in the big leagues, a role he could realize in 2021. He will first have to pitch his way onto the 40-man roster, but his unique extension, arm slot and pitch characteristics could work.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #21 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Since signing for $85,000, De La Cruz has shown plenty of potential but has had his progress waylaid over the years by injuries and an 80-game suspension to begin 2018 after testing positive for a masking agent. His suspension occurred toward midseason, and he'll be eligible to get back on the mound early in 2019.
  
  Scouting Report: Those who saw De La Cruz in 2018 still came away impressed with his stuff. Evaluators saw a fastball that sat in the low 90s but could reach as high as 96 when he needed a whiff. His changeup was inconsistent but flashed plus at times. Less impressive was the curveball, which needed tightening and showed a visible hump out of De La Cruz's hand. Scouts outside the organization also noted that his arm slot on the curveball was different than on his fastball or changeup, and the Cubs acknowledged that he was working to find a consistent slot for all his pitches. All of this, of course, was before his suspension, making his 2019 season a bit of a wild card.
  
  The Future: Once he returns, De La Cruz could return to Double-A for more seasoning or move to Triple-A Iowa to speed up his development a bit.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #6 prospect in 2018
  An infielder before signing as a 17-year-old, de la Cruz shifted to the mound after signing with the Cubs for $85,000. He seemed poised to bust out after his 2015 U.S. debut with short-season Eugene, but he has pitched less than 100 innings the last two seasons with a variety of ailments, from forearm soreness to muscle pulls to oblique strains. In 2017 he missed nearly three months before returning to pitch in August, then was pulled from the Cubs' Arizona Fall League contingent. At his best, de la Cruz features an athletic delivery with excellent extension that helps his 92-94 mph fastball pop, and he has touched 97 in the past. He can show above-average fastball life and downhill angle as well, eliciting weak contact. His curveball and changeup both have had their moments, with the curveball earning above-average grades. Its consistency is about as good as his health track record, and he hasn't had the reps to gain proper feel for his changeup. It's all about staying healthy for de la Cruz, who rivals Albertos for ceiling in the system as a potential No. 2 or No. 3 starter. The Cubs won't waste his bullets in the minors; if he stays healthy, he'll zoom to Wrigley Field.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #5 prospect in 2017
  A big-bodied infielder as an amateur, de la Cruz shifted to the mound and signed for $85,000 as a 17-year-old. It took him two years to get to the U.S. because of his lack of pitching experience, but he took off in 2015 at short-season Eugene. His progress was stalled in 2016 by a bout of forearm tenderness, and he didn't pitch in games until July. However, he finished with a flourish at low Class A South Bend, including a six-inning start in the Midwest League playoff opener. His combination of size, stuff and ceiling makes de la Cruz exciting even though he hasn't pitched a full season yet. He uses his size and extension in his delivery to drive his fastball downhill with above-average velocity and life. He pitches with angle at 92-94 mph at his best and touches 97, though he frequently sat 89-92 in 2016 due to his lack of consistent activity. Both of de la Cruz's secondary pitches, a hard curveball and a developing changeup, earn future plus grades, with the curve better at present. He knows how to use his power breaking ball and can throw it for strikes, while he has improved the arm speed on his changeup. De la Cruz has yet to pitch more than 75 innings in a season, but he threw in instructional league and is slated to advance to high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #8 prospect in 2016
  Before he signed, de la Cruz was working out for teams as a 6-foot-4, 200-pound shortstop. When that didn't work out, he shifted to the mound and signed with the Cubs for $85,000 as a 17-year-old in October 2012, but he was so raw he spent two years in the Dominican Summer League. He took a leap forward in 2015 by harnessing his delivery and emerging as the best prospect on a talented short-season Eugene staff. Physicality is de la Cruz's calling card. Some club officials project he could be as tall as 6-foot-6 and could push 250 pounds when he finishes growing, and he has a fast arm His fastball sits in the 92-93 mph range but bumps 97 regularly when his delivery is in sync and he's getting extension out front. At his best, his fastball features above-average life, movement and angle to go with its velocity, making it a potential double-plus pitch. His curveball flashes plus and pushes 80-81 mph. He's still learning to throw his changeup with proper arm speed. Competitiveness is an asset for de la Cruz, who has shown a mean streak on the mound. Club officials try to rein in their enthusiasm with regard to de la Cruz, but they clearly have high hopes for him. He projects to start 2016 at low Class A South Bend, a level he could dominate with his strike-throwing ability and premium heater.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #16 prospect in 2015
  De la Cruz signed with the Cubs for just $85,000 as a 17-year-old in October 2012. He made giant strides in 2015 in extended spring training, earning a jump to the NWL following two years in the Dominican Summer League. De la Cruz didn't just hold his own at Eugene. He ranked second in the NWL with 73 strikeouts and tied for first with a 1.00 WHIP. The projectable de la Cruz appears to stand at least one inch taller than his listed 6-foot-4 height, giving him great natural plane. De la Cruz has room to grow, though he's already fairly strong, and as he does, his velocity should eclipse its current 92-93 mph range, which is where he sits. De la Cruz's secondary offerings are still in development. Of those, his curveball shows the most promise and flashed plus in the second half of the season. He has feel for his changeup, but it has been inconsistent. His delivery is clean and repeatable, thanks to athleticism he possesses.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: De la Cruz first flashed potential in the short-season Northwest League in 2015, when as 20-year-old he ranked second in the league with 73 strikeouts. He ranked as one of the Cubs' Top 10 prospects three times after his breakout year but never advanced past Double-A before being released in May 2020. The Mets signed him in November as a priority minor league free agent.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Cubs developed de la Cruz as a starter until the second half of the 2019 season, when he moved to the Double-A Tennessee bullpen. His stuff played well in the role--he struck out 49 and walked nine in 37.1 innings with a 1.10 WHIP--and the Mets intend to keep him in a relief role. De la Cruz is a physical freak. His 6-foot-7 stature, long arms and plus extension help his four-seam fastball play up. He sat 92 mph as a starter but as a reliever pitches at 94 and touches 97, delivering the ball from a lower three-quarters arm slot and from the far third base side of the rubber. De la Cruz's mid-80s straight changeup deceives hitters because it doesn't have the expected fade or bore. A lack of a trusted breaking ball limited him in the rotation but isn't as big an issue in the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Mets believe de la Cruz has middle reliever upside in the big leagues, a role he could realize in 2021. He will first have to pitch his way onto the 40-man roster, but his unique extension, arm slot and pitch characteristics could work.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: De la Cruz first flashed potential in the short-season Northwest League in 2015, when as 20-year-old he ranked second in the league with 73 strikeouts. He ranked as one of the Cubs' Top 10 prospects three times after his breakout year but never advanced past Double-A before being released in May 2020. The Mets signed him in November as a priority minor league free agent.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Cubs developed de la Cruz as a starter until the second half of the 2019 season, when he moved to the Double-A Tennessee bullpen. His stuff played well in the role--he struck out 49 and walked nine in 37.1 innings with a 1.10 WHIP--and the Mets intend to keep him in a relief role. De la Cruz is a physical freak. His 6-foot-7 stature, long arms and plus extension help his four-seam fastball play up. He sat 92 mph as a starter but as a reliever pitches at 94 and touches 97, delivering the ball from a lower three-quarters arm slot and from the far third base side of the rubber. De la Cruz's mid-80s straight changeup deceives hitters because it doesn't have the expected fade or bore. A lack of a trusted breaking ball limited him in the rotation but isn't as big an issue in the bullpen.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Mets believe de la Cruz has middle reliever upside in the big leagues, a role he could realize in 2021. He will first have to pitch his way onto the 40-man roster, but his unique extension, arm slot and pitch characteristics could work.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  After being held to just 56.2 innings in 2017, De La Cruz took the entire offseason to rest and let his body heal. His hopes of pitching a full season in 2018 ended, however, when he was suspended at midseason for 80 games after testing positive for a masking agent. Prior to his suspension, De La Cruz worked this year to find a consistent release point on both of his offspeed pitches and throwing quality strikes. The raw stuff is certainly there, but the performance wasn’t (6-7, 5.24) and his continued inability to stay on the mound is overshadowing his raw abilities.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: An infielder before signing as a 17-year-old, de la Cruz shifted to the mound after signing with the Cubs for $85,000. He seemed poised to bust out after his 2015 U.S. debut with short-season Eugene, but he has pitched less than 100 innings the last two seasons with a variety of ailments, from forearm soreness to muscle pulls to oblique strains. In 2017 he missed nearly three months before returning to pitch in August. Scouting Report: At his best, de la Cruz features an athletic delivery with excellent extension that helps his 92-94 mph fastball pop, and he has touched 97 in the past. He can show above-average fastball life and downhill angle as well, eliciting weak contact. His curveball and changeup both have had their moments, with the curveball earning above-average grades. Its consistency is about as good as his health track record, and he hasn't had the reps to gain proper feel for his changeup. The Future: It's all about staying healthy for de la Cruz, who rivals Albertos for ceiling in the system as a potential No. 2 or No. 3 starter. The Cubs won't waste his bullets in the minors; if he stays healthy, he'll zoom to Wrigley Field.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: A big-bodied infielder as an amateur, de la Cruz shifted to the mound and signed for $85,000 as a 17-year-old. It took him two years to get to the U.S. thanks to his lack of pitching experience, but he took off in 2015 at short-season Eugene. His progress was stalled in 2016 by a bout of forearm tenderness, and he didn't pitch in games until July. However, he finished with a flourish at low Class A South Bend, including a six-inning start in the Midwest League playoff opener. Scouting Report: The combination of size, stuff and ceiling makes de la Cruz exciting even though he hasn't pitched a full season yet. He uses his size and extension in his delivery to drive his fastball downhill with above-average velocity and life. He pitches with angle at 92-94 mph at his best and touches 97, though he frequently sat 89-92 in 2016 due to his lack of consistent activity. Both of de la Cruz's secondary pitches, a hard curveball and a developing changeup, earn future plus grades, with the curve the better present pitch. He can throw his power breaking ball for strikes, and he has improved the arm speed on his changeup.
  
  The Future: De la Cruz has yet to pitch more than 75 innings in a season, but he threw in instructional league and is slated to advance to high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2017.