Jasseel De La Cruz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #22 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: De la Cruz was a low-profile signing who Atlanta signed to a $55,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic, but as he progressed through the system his stuff took big steps forward. He showed an ability to start with effectiveness against Double-A pitching in 2019, but his control regressed significantly in 2021, where he struggled against Triple-A hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: De la Cruz looked great in May when he threw strikes 65% of the time but fell off significantly after that and split time as a starter and reliever, with better results out of the bullpen. He has a firm fastball in the 94-96 mph range that gets to the upper 90s and has touched 100 mph in the past. The pitch has ordinary life, however, and missed a below-average number of bats. His slider is his go-to secondary, a mid-80s breaker that receives above-average and plus grades at times and has been up to 92 mph with big spin in the 2,700 rpm range. De la Cruz rarely uses a firm changeup that doesn’t have much separation from his fastball and is predominantly a two-pitch righty. After improving his control in 2019, he walked a career-high 12.5% in 2021.
  
  The Future: Without a consistent third offering and below-average control, De la Cruz profiles best out of the bullpen, where perhaps his fastball/slider combination can play better.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #13 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: A late-bloomer who signed for a $55,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic, De la Cruz hit his stride in pro ball and showed he could succeed as a starter against upper-level competition at Double-A Mississippi in 2019. The Braves brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors in September, although he didn't appear in a game before being sent back down.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De la Cruz has two loud offerings, including a plus-plus fastball that sat 97 mph and touched 100 mph at the alternate site. He pairs it with a hard, vertical slider that earns above-average to plus grades. De la Cruz will need to improve his fastball command to fully optimize the two-pitch tandem. He throws strikes but doesn't have the command to pinpoint the ball, largely due to his long arm action in the back of his delivery. He has made strides in the control department, giving some hope he could remain a starter. He's made progress with his changeup to give him a usable third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: De la Cruz has had success as a starter, but most scouts think he'd be best suited as a reliever. He'll open 2021 in Triple-A.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #11 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: A late-blooming, hard-throwing prospect who signed as an 18-year-old in 2015, de la Cruz developed into an intriguing prospect in Atlanta's low minors thanks to pure stuff and a fast arm but took a step forward with his pitching ability and reached Double-A in 2019. Atlanta started de la Cruz in Rome which gave him a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He quickly advanced to Double-A Mississippi, where he spent the bulk of his time and posted the best walk rate of his domestic career.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: His fastball has touched 100 mph but he typically sits in the mid-90s with a plus fastball that he has learned to throw to both sides of the plate more consistently. De la Cruz has also improved the control of his offspeed offerings, which include a slider that flashes above-average and a previously below-average changeup that could now be projected as average. His arm action is long in the back, but he's shown enough improvement hitting his spots to give himself a shot at starting.
  
  THE FUTURE: Some scouts believe de la Cruz is destined for the bullpen due to his demeanor and attacking mentality, but his improvement this year increases his likelihood to become a back-of-the-rotation arm.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #29 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Braves found the late-blooming de la Cruz as an 18-year-old in 2015. He's developed into one of the best arms the Braves have in the low minors.
  
  Scouting Report: All too often when the going gets tough, de la Cruz rears back and hopes for the best. His 90-96 mph fastball is hard enough to blow hitters away, but it's much more effective when hitters aren't waiting for it. Too often in 2018, de la Cruz fell behind in counts and then got away from mixing pitches, become too predictably fastball-reliant. He also would get into habits of overthrowing. But when he's cruising, he has an above-average fastball and a slider that flashes plus. His control is below-average. His delivery is long in the back, but he uses his legs well in his delivery.
  
  The Future: Understandably de la Cruz is developmentally behind many of his peers because he got a late start to pitching in pro ball. But he has the pieces of a future power reliever thanks to two pitches with plus potential.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #27 prospect in 2018
  The Braves snagged de la Cruz, a late-blooming 18-year-old, for a modest five-figure bonus in 2015 and quickly saw him blossom into a fire-balling righthander with two potential swing-and-miss offerings. De la Cruz sits 90-96 mph with his fastball, though he struggles to maintain that velocity deeper into games. The velocity, life and control of his fastball all vary from pitch to pitch. His hard 85-88 mph slider gives him a second potentially plus pitch. It's not yet as consistent as it needs to be, but when he locks in, it's got late movement. His changeup will be a point of emphasis going forward, because currently it lacks deception and is too hard. De la Cruz has room to fill out. He's all long, lanky arms and legs at this point.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: De la Cruz was a low-profile signing who Atlanta signed to a $55,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic, but as he progressed through the system his stuff took big steps forward. He showed an ability to start with effectiveness against Double-A pitching in 2019, but his control regressed significantly in 2021, where he struggled against Triple-A hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: De la Cruz looked great in May when he threw strikes 65% of the time but fell off significantly after that and split time as a starter and reliever, with better results out of the bullpen. He has a firm fastball in the 94-96 mph range that gets to the upper 90s and has touched 100 mph in the past. The pitch has ordinary life, however, and missed a below-average number of bats. His slider is his go-to secondary, a mid-80s breaker that receives above-average and plus grades at times and has been up to 92 mph with big spin in the 2,700 rpm range. De la Cruz rarely uses a firm changeup that doesn’t have much separation from his fastball and is predominantly a two-pitch righty. After improving his control in 2019, he walked a career-high 12.5% in 2021.
  
  The Future: Without a consistent third offering and below-average control, De la Cruz profiles best out of the bullpen, where perhaps his fastball/slider combination can play better.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A late-bloomer who signed for a $55,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic, De la Cruz hit his stride in pro ball and showed he could succeed as a starter against upper-level competition at Double-A Mississippi in 2019. The Braves brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors in September, although he didn't appear in a game before being sent back down.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De la Cruz has two loud offerings, including a plus-plus fastball that sat 97 mph and touched 100 mph at the alternate site. He pairs it with a hard, vertical slider that earns above-average to plus grades. De la Cruz will need to improve his fastball command to fully optimize the two-pitch tandem. He throws strikes but doesn't have the command to pinpoint the ball, largely due to his long arm action in the back of his delivery. He has made strides in the control department, giving some hope he could remain a starter. He's made progress with his changeup to give him a usable third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: De la Cruz has had success as a starter, but most scouts think he'd be best suited as a reliever. He'll open 2021 in Triple-A.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A late-bloomer who signed for a $55,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic, De la Cruz hit his stride in pro ball and showed he could succeed as a starter against upper-level competition at Double-A Mississippi in 2019. The Braves brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors in September, although he didn't appear in a game before being sent back down.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De la Cruz has two loud offerings, including a plus-plus fastball that sat 97 mph and touched 100 mph at the alternate site. He pairs it with a hard, vertical slider that earns above-average to plus grades. De la Cruz will need to improve his fastball command to fully optimize the two-pitch tandem. He throws strikes but doesn't have the command to pinpoint the ball, largely due to his long arm action in the back of his delivery. He has made strides in the control department, giving some hope he could remain a starter. He's made progress with his changeup to give him a usable third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: De la Cruz has had success as a starter, but most scouts think he'd be best suited as a reliever. He'll open 2021 in Triple-A.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A late-bloomer who signed for a $55,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic, De la Cruz hit his stride in pro ball and showed he could succeed as a starter against upper-level competition at Double-A Mississippi in 2019. The Braves brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors in September, although he didn't appear in a game before being sent back down.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De la Cruz has two loud offerings, including a plus-plus fastball that sat 97 mph and touched 100 mph at the alternate site. He pairs it with a hard, vertical slider that earns above-average to plus grades. De la Cruz will need to improve his fastball command to fully optimize the two-pitch tandem. He throws strikes but doesn't have the command to pinpoint the ball, largely due to his long arm action in the back of his delivery. He has made strides in the control department, giving some hope he could remain a starter. He's made progress with his changeup to give him a usable third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: De la Cruz has had success as a starter, but most scouts think he'd be best suited as a reliever. He'll open 2021 in Triple-A.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A late-blooming, hard-throwing prospect who signed as an 18-year-old in 2015, de la Cruz developed into an intriguing prospect in Atlanta’s low minors thanks to pure stuff and a fast arm but took a step forward with his pitching ability and reached Double-A in 2019. Atlanta started de la Cruz in Rome which gave him a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He quickly advanced to Double-A Mississippi, where he spent the bulk of his time and posted the best walk rate of his domestic career.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: His fastball has touched 100 mph but he typically sits in the mid-90s with a plus fastball that he has learned to throw to both sides of the plate more consistently. De la Cruz has also improved the control of his offspeed offerings, which include a slider that flashes above-average and a previously below-average changeup that could now be projected as average. His arm action is long in the back, but he’s shown enough improvement hitting his spots to give himself a shot at starting.
  
  THE FUTURE: Some scouts believe de la Cruz is destined for the bullpen due to his demeanor and attacking mentality, but his improvement this year increases his likelihood to become a back-of-the-rotation arm.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A late-blooming, hard-throwing prospect who signed as an 18-year-old in 2015, de la Cruz developed into an intriguing prospect in Atlanta's low minors thanks to pure stuff and a fast arm but took a step forward with his pitching ability and reached Double-A in 2019. Atlanta started de la Cruz in Rome which gave him a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He quickly advanced to Double-A Mississippi, where he spent the bulk of his time and posted the best walk rate of his domestic career.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: His fastball has touched 100 mph but he typically sits in the mid-90s with a plus fastball that he has learned to throw to both sides of the plate more consistently. De la Cruz has also improved the control of his offspeed offerings, which include a slider that flashes above-average and a previously below-average changeup that could now be projected as average. His arm action is long in the back, but he's shown enough improvement hitting his spots to give himself a shot at starting.
  
  THE FUTURE: Some scouts believe de la Cruz is destined for the bullpen due to his demeanor and attacking mentality, but his improvement this year increases his likelihood to become a back-of-the-rotation arm.