Bryan Starling De La Cruz Bio
Bryan Starling De La Cruz (born December 16, 1996) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Atlanta Braves. De La Cruz signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 2013 and made his major league debut in 2021. Throughout his MLB career, he has established himself as a consistent power hitter with 58 home runs and 208 runs batted in across his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Bryan Starling De La Cruz was born on December 16, 1996, in the Dominican Republic. Growing up in the baseball-rich nation, he developed his skills at a young age and attracted attention from major league scouts. His passion and aptitude for the sport led him to pursue a professional career in baseball.
Path to Major League Baseball
De La Cruz signed with the Houston Astros organization as an international free agent on September 24, 2013, receiving a $170,000 signing bonus. He began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League, where he showcased his hitting ability by posting a .262 batting average with 22 runs batted in during his debut season.
Over the next several years, De La Cruz steadily climbed through the Astros minor league system. He played for various affiliates including the Gulf Coast League Astros, Greeneville Astros, Tri-City ValleyCats, Quad Cities River Bandits, Corpus Christi Hooks, and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. His consistent performance at each level demonstrated his potential as a future major league contributor.
Bryan Starling De La Cruz Career
Houston Astros Minor League Years (2013–2021)
De La Cruz spent his early professional years developing within the Astros organization. In 2015 with the Gulf Coast League Astros, he hit .242 with 12 RBI. He split the 2016 season between Greeneville and Tri-City, combining to hit .239 with three home runs and 18 RBI.
His 2017 season was distributed among Tri-City, Quad Cities, and Corpus Christi, where he posted a combined .244 batting average. De La Cruz showed significant improvement in 2018 with Quad Cities and Buies Creek, hitting a combined .289 with 62 RBI. He continued his development in 2019 with Fayetteville and Corpus Christi, posting a .280 average with eight home runs and 43 RBI. The 2020 season was lost due to the cancellation of Minor League Baseball because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2021–2024)
On July 28, 2021, the Astros traded De La Cruz and Austin Pruitt to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Yimi García. Two days later, on July 30, the Marlins selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that same night against the New York Yankees.
De La Cruz made an immediate impact in his rookie season. On August 13, 2021, he hit his first career grand slam off Chicago Cubs starter Adbert Alzolay. In 58 games during his debut campaign, he batted .296 with five home runs and 19 RBI, demonstrating his ability to hit for average at the highest level.
He earned a spot on the Marlins Opening Day roster for the 2022 season. He played in 115 games that year, slashing .252/.294/.432 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. The 2023 season proved to be his most productive, as he made 153 appearances and batted .257/.304/.411 with career highs in home runs (19) and RBI (78).
In 2024, De La Cruz played in 105 contests for Miami before his trade, hitting .245/.289/.417 with 18 home runs, 51 RBI, and three stolen bases. At the time of his departure, he led the Marlins in both home runs and RBI for the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves (2024–2025)
On July 30, 2024, the Marlins traded De La Cruz to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jun-Seok Shim and Garret Forrester. In 44 games for Pittsburgh, he slashed .200/.220/.294 with three home runs, 17 RBI, and two stolen bases. Following the season, the Pirates non-tendered him on November 22, 2024, making him a free agent.
On December 15, 2024, De La Cruz signed a one-year major league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He made 16 appearances for Atlanta in 2025, batting .191/.240/.213 with one stolen base.
Philadelphia Phillies (2025–Present)
On May 1, 2025, De La Cruz was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees and assigned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He was designated for assignment by the Yankees on July 31, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Scranton on August 3. He elected free agency on October 10, 2025.
On November 6, 2025, De La Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, joining their organization for the upcoming season.
Playing Style and Strengths
De La Cruz is known as a right-handed hitting outfielder who displays consistent power to all fields. His career-high 19 home runs in 2023 and 78 RBI demonstrated his ability to drive in runs. He has shown the capacity to play a significant number of games each season, with 153 appearances in 2023 being his highest workload. His experience across multiple organizations has allowed him to adapt to different clubhouse environments and playstyles.
Notable Career Moments
De La Cruz’s first career grand slam on August 13, 2021, against Adbert Alzolay of the Chicago Cubs stands out as a memorable debut moment. His 2023 season represented his best statistical year, establishing him as one of the Marlins’ most consistent producers. His mid-season trades to Pittsburgh in 2024 and subsequent moves through the waiver wire highlighted his value as an everyday player who could contribute across multiple major league rosters.
Bryan Starling De La Cruz Career Wins
Across his MLB career spanning 2021 through 2025, De La Cruz has accumulated 58 home runs and 208 runs batted in while maintaining a .251 batting average. His most productive season came in 2023 with the Marlins, where he set career highs in multiple offensive categories.
Miami Marlins Highlights
During his two and a half seasons with the Marlins from 2021 to 2024, De La Cruz established himself as a key contributor in the lineup. His rookie season saw him hit .296 in 58 games, immediately demonstrating his ability to compete at the major league level. His 2023 campaign was particularly notable, as he played 153 games while hitting 19 home runs and driving in 78 runs. His 18 home runs in 2024 led the team at the time of his trade.
Minor League and Career Statistics
Prior to his MLB debut, De La Cruz spent eight seasons developing in the minor leagues, highlighted by a .324 average with 12 home runs and 50 RBI in 50 games with the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2021 before his promotion. His minor league career included stops at various levels from the Dominican Summer League to Triple-A.
| Competition Level | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | Runs Batted In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major League Baseball (Career) | 386 | .251 | 58 | 208 |
| Marlins (2021–2024) | 316 | .256 | 50 | 140 |
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for De La Cruz. After beginning the season with the Atlanta Braves, he appeared in only 16 games while batting .191. His time with the Braves was brief before he was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees in May.
With the Yankees organization, De La Cruz spent the majority of his time at the Triple-A level with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He was designated for assignment in late July, cleared waivers, and remained with the RailRiders through the end of the season. Following the conclusion of the minor league campaign, he elected free agency in October.
Following the 2025 season, De La Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, providing him with an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in a new organization. His career totals of 58 home runs and 208 RBI demonstrate his ability to be an productive offensive player when given consistent playing time.