| Jasseel De La Cruz | |
| Team: | Rieleros de Aguascalientes |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 26 June 1997 |
| Birth Place: | Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
Jasseel De La Cruz (born June 26, 1997) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League.
De La Cruz signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent on June 1, 2015.[1] He spent his first professional season of 2015 with the DSL Braves, going 0–1 with a 7.11 ERA in 6 innings. He split the 2016 season between the DSL and the GCL Braves, going a combined 4–0 with a 2.18 ERA in 41 innings. He split the 2017 season between the GCL and the Danville Braves, going a combined 2–4 with a 3.80 ERA in innings. He played for the Rome Braves in 2018, going 3–4 with a 3.83 ERA in 69 innings.[2] De La Cruz split the 2019 season between Rome, Florida Fire Frogs, and Mississippi Braves, going a combined 7–9 with a 3.25 ERA over 133 innings. On May 18, 2019, De La Cruz threw a no-hitter for the Florida Fire Frogs.[3] [4]
On November 19, 2019, the Braves added De La Cruz was added to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[5] On September 15, 2020, De La Cruz was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[6] He was optioned down the next day without making a major league appearance. On May 8, 2021, De La Cruz was again promoted to the majors but was again sent down on May 10 without playing.[7] Following the conclusion of the 2021 season, De La Cruz was not tendered a contract, making him a free agent.[8]
On March 13, 2022, De La Cruz re-signed with the Braves organization on a minor league contract.[9] He split the year between the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers, Double–A Mississippi Braves, and rookie–level Florida Complex League Braves. In 20 combined appearances, he struggled to a 7.18 ERA with 28 strikeouts across innings of work. De La Cruz elected free agency after the season on November 10.[10]
On November 29, 2022, De La Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics.[11] He spent the majority of the 2023 season with the Double–A Midland RockHounds, also appearing in 6 games for the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Athletics. In 18 relief outings for Midland, De La Cruz struggled to a 13.73 ERA with 29 strikeouts across innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.[12]
On February 20, 2024, De La Cruz signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[13] De La Cruz did not make an appearance for the club before he was released on May 26.[14]
On October 23, 2024, De La Cruz signed with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League.[15]