Jasseel De La Cruz

Jasseel De La Cruz (born June 26, 1997) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. De La Cruz is currently a phantom ballplayer, having spent stints in 2020 and 2021 on the Atlanta Braves' active roster but never having appeared in a major league game.

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 $42 2/3$ 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 $26 1⁄3$ innings of work. De La Cruz elected free agency after the season on November 10.

Oakland Athletics
On November 29, 2022, De La Cruz signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics. 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 $29 2⁄3$ innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.

Sioux City Explorers
On February 20, 2024, De La Cruz signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Professional Baseball. De La Cruz did not make an appearance for the club before he was released on May 26.