Bryan De La Cruz

Bryan De La Cruz Bio

Bryan Starling De La Cruz, born December 16, 1996, is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder who most recently signed with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Atlanta Braves. A power-hitting corner outfielder, De La Cruz began his professional career as an international free agent with the Houston Astros and reached the majors four years after his trade to Miami. Across his MLB career, he has produced a .251 batting average with 58 home runs and 208 runs batted in through the 2025 season.

Known for his right-handed bat and run-producing profile, Bryan De La Cruz became a middle-of-the-order threat during his Marlins tenure. He has also spent time with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and has continued his career in the Philadelphia Phillies system.

Early Life and Background

Bryan Starling De La Cruz was born on December 16, 1996, in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has long produced top MLB talent, and De La Cruz grew up in that baseball-rich environment that produces many of the sport’s premier athletes. Details about his specific hometown and family background are not widely documented in public sources.

From a young age, De La Cruz focused on baseball, the national pastime of his home country. His physical build and right-handed swing eventually attracted the attention of MLB scouts operating in the Dominican Republic, setting him on a path toward professional baseball.

Path to Baseball

Bryan De La Cruz signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent on September 24, 2013, when he was 16 years old. The Astros gave him a $170,000 signing bonus and sent him to their Dominican academy to begin his development. He spent his first professional season with the Dominican Summer League Astros in 2014, hitting .262 with one home run and 22 runs batted in (RBI) while learning the basics of professional play.

De La Cruz progressed steadily through the Houston minor league system, advancing through the Gulf Coast League Astros, the Greeneville Astros, the Tri-City ValleyCats, the Quad Cities River Bandits, and the Corpus Christi Hooks. His strongest developmental season came in 2018, when he hit a combined .289 with two home runs and 62 RBI between Quad Cities and the Buies Creek Astros. After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned in 2021 with the Sugar Land Skeeters and hit .324 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI in 66 games, positioning himself as a top prospect on the verge of the majors.

Bryan De La Cruz Career

Early Career (2014–2020)

Bryan De La Cruz began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2014 before working his way through every level of the Houston Astros minor league system. He showed steady improvement in his plate discipline and power, peaking with a strong 2018 campaign in which he drove in 62 runs. After another productive year in 2019 split between the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and Corpus Christi, he did not play in 2020 because the minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When play resumed in 2021, De La Cruz opened the year with the Sugar Land Skeeters and put together the best stretch of his minor league career. His performance there convinced the Astros that he was ready for the majors, which led directly to his trade to Miami later that summer.

Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2021–2024)

On July 28, 2021, the Houston Astros traded Bryan De La Cruz and pitcher Austin Pruitt to the Miami Marlins in exchange for relief pitcher Yimi García. Two days later, Miami selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut on July 30, 2021, against the New York Yankees, and on August 13 he hit his first career grand slam off Chicago Cubs starter Adbert Alzolay. In 58 games during his rookie season, he batted .296 with five home runs and 19 RBI, immediately establishing himself as an everyday corner outfielder.

De La Cruz earned a spot on the Marlins’ Opening Day roster in 2022 and played 115 games that season, slashing .252/.294/.432 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. In 2023, he set new career highs with 19 home runs and 78 RBI across 153 games, becoming a central run producer in Miami’s lineup. During the first half of 2024, he paced the Marlins in both home runs and RBI before being dealt at the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2024)

On July 30, 2024, the Miami Marlins traded Bryan De La Cruz to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jun-Seok Shim and Garret Forrester. He joined a Pirates club looking for outfield depth and a right-handed power bat. In 44 games with Pittsburgh, he slashed .200/.220/.294 with three home runs, 17 RBI, and two stolen bases. On November 22, 2024, the Pirates non-tendered him, making him a free agent.

Atlanta Braves Era (2025)

On December 15, 2024, Bryan De La Cruz signed a one-year, major league contract with the Atlanta Braves, joining a perennial contender in the National League East. His time in Atlanta was brief, as he appeared in only 16 games and batted .191/.240/.213 with one stolen base. On May 1, 2025, the Braves designated him for assignment, and he was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees. He was assigned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and later designated for assignment by the Yankees on July 31 before clearing waivers and being sent outright to Scranton on August 3. He elected free agency on October 10, 2025.

Philadelphia Phillies Era (2025–Present)

On November 6, 2025, Bryan De La Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, returning to the National League East. The deal gave him a chance to compete for a roster spot in spring training and re-establish himself as a major league outfielder. He is expected to compete for a bench or platoon role in the Phillies’ outfield mix.

Driving Style and Strengths

Bryan De La Cruz is a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder whose game is built around above-average raw power. His best offensive stretches have come against right-handed pitching, where his swing generates hard contact and home run pop. He is primarily a corner outfielder, with enough arm strength to handle right field when needed, and he brings a veteran run-producing presence to a youthful Phillies outfield group.

Notable Events and Milestones

Bryan De La Cruz made his major league debut against the New York Yankees on July 30, 2021, and two weeks later launched his first career grand slam off Adbert Alzolay of the Chicago Cubs. His most productive major league season came in 2023 with the Marlins, when he set career highs with 19 home runs and 78 RBI. He has also been traded at the deadline, signed multiple big-league contracts, and now holds the distinction of having played for four different MLB organizations within a single calendar year.

Bryan De La Cruz Career Wins

Bryan De La Cruz’s career achievements are most visible through his offensive milestones rather than championships. Through the 2025 season, he has hit 58 career home runs and driven in 208 runs across his MLB career, with his 19-homer, 78-RBI 2023 campaign standing as his signature season.

MLB Highlights

De La Cruz’s first major league hit came during his debut with the Miami Marlins in 2021, and his first grand slam quickly followed on August 13 of that year. He finished that rookie season with a .296 batting average, signaling his potential as a middle-of-the-order bat. In 2023, he appeared in 153 games and posted career highs in both home runs (19) and RBI (78), cementing his role as a primary run producer for the Marlins.

Other Wins & Performances

In the minor leagues, De La Cruz posted strong seasons across multiple levels of the Houston Astros system, including a .324 average with 12 home runs and 50 RBI at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2021. His consistent run-production through the minors earned him a top prospect ranking within the organization and prepared him for the majors.

Bryan De La Cruz Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Bryan Starling De La Cruz was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, a country that has produced generations of Major League Baseball stars. Public information about his parents, siblings, or extended family is limited, and no details about a baseball lineage have been widely reported.

Personal Life

Bryan De La Cruz keeps his personal life largely private, and there is limited verified public information about his marital status, spouse, or children. He has spent most of his career living in the United States since signing with the Houston Astros in 2013.

2025 Season Performance

Bryan De La Cruz’s 2025 season was marked by roster movement across multiple organizations. After signing with the Atlanta Braves in December 2024, he appeared in 16 games and batted .191 before being designated for assignment in early May. The New York Yankees then claimed him off waivers and assigned him to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where he worked to recapture his offensive form.

On July 31, the Yankees designated him for assignment, and after clearing waivers he was sent outright to Scranton on August 3. He finished the year at Triple-A, elected free agency on October 10, 2025, and signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 6. Heading into 2026, he will look to leverage his right-handed power and veteran experience to carve out a role in Philadelphia’s outfield.