Oscar De La Cruz is a Dominican right-handed pitcher born in La Romana on March 4, 1995. His professional path has run through minor league organizations, winter ball in the Caribbean, and a persistent drive to reach the majors — a drive that hasn’t dimmed despite the grind of the minors.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Oscar De La Cruz
- Position: Pitcher (RHP)
- Winter team: Estrellas Orientales (LIDOM, 2026-27)
- Jersey number: 64
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 6’6″ / 249 lbs
- Born: March 4, 1995 — La Romana, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴
Background
De La Cruz came up through the pipeline that the Dominican Republic keeps feeding into professional baseball. He entered affiliated ball with the Cubs organization and later spent time in the Mets system, working his way from High-A up to Triple-A without ever breaking through to a big-league debut. The experience, though, was anything but wasted.
Professional Career
His minor league career tells the familiar story of a prospect navigating ups and downs across levels. His best stretch came in 2019, when he posted a 1.20 ERA in 15.0 innings at High-A with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans before moving up to Double-A Tennessee, where he threw 81.1 innings with a 4.09 ERA and 88 strikeouts.
The 2021 season with the Mets organization was tougher. At Double-A Binghamton, he made 16 starts, striking out 60 batters in 59.2 innings but carrying a 7.24 ERA. A brief Triple-A stint with Syracuse went sideways — 18.90 ERA across just 6.2 innings. Rough numbers, but De La Cruz kept pitching.
Winter Ball: Where He Found His Footing
The Liga Dominicana de Invierno has become De La Cruz’s main stage, and he’s made the most of it. Pitching for the Estrellas Orientales, he’s shown the kind of consistency that was harder to find in the minors.
- 2024-25: 3.40 ERA, 38 K in 39.2 IP (11 appearances)
- 2025-26: 3.81 ERA, 54 K in 49.2 IP (12 appearances)
- 2026-27: 2.00 ERA, 8 K in 9.0 IP (2 appearances)
That early 2.00 ERA in the current winter season is an encouraging sign for a pitcher who has quietly become a reliable piece of the Estrellas Orientales rotation.
Full Winter Stats
- 2026-27 LIDOM: 2 G · 2.00 ERA · 1-0 · 8 K · 9.0 IP
- 2025-26 LIDOM: 12 G · 3.81 ERA · 3-3 · 54 K · 49.2 IP
- 2024-25 LIDOM: 11 G · 3.40 ERA · 2-2 · 38 K · 39.2 IP
- 2022-23 LIDOM: 11 G · 4.15 ERA · 1-2 · 24 K · 30.1 IP
The Bigger Picture
While many Dominican players use winter ball as a stepping stone, De La Cruz has made LIDOM a destination in itself — a platform where he gets real innings, real competition, and real visibility. Whether that leads back to affiliated ball or eventually to the majors, the 6’6″ righty is still very much in the game and still very much chasing the dream.
