Jasseel De La Cruz
Jasseel De La Cruz is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Caciques de Distrito of the Venezuelan Major League.
Career
Atlanta Braves
De La Cruz signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent on June 1, 2015. 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. 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.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. On September 15, 2020, De La Cruz was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. 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. Following the conclusion of the 2021 season, De La Cruz was not tendered a contract, making him a free agent.
On March 13, 2022, De La Cruz re-signed with the Braves organization on a minor league contract. 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.