Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ATL | RHP | 10 | 45 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 60 | 55 | 40 | 45/40 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Geoff Pontes
Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster
Physical Description: Average height to slightly below for a pitcher, not a particularly projectable frame. Lacks a high overall fitness level with a slight potbelly showing despite not being a heavyset guy. Has strength in his lower half, but doesn't use it terribly effectively in his motion.
Delivery & Mechanics: Inefficient mechanical operation due to poor timing. However, other positive mechanical traits like his fast arm, good lead leg block and heavily glute dominant operation allow him to get the most possible velocity out of his below average physique. De La Cruz starts his full delivery with a slight rock, to a contracted leg lift that closes off his front side. Simultaneously getting heavily into his back leg and glutes, before springing forward and slinging the ball from a lower three quarters delivery. He has some serious shoulder and pelvis tilt upon release, with his arm doing speed doing much of the work to stay in time. High effort delivery due to up-tempo motion, this coupled with his timing issues lead to De La Cruz losing the strike zone for stretches.
Fastball: High octane fastball and the dominant usage pitch in De La Cruz's arsenal. Sits 93-95 mph touching 97-99 mph at his hottest. In certain outings De La Cruz would sit 95-98 mph but only for the first two innings before dropping to his usual 93-95 mph. He gets solid backspin high in the zone with around 18+ inches of lift and an average raw spin rate of 2300+. His command of the pitch is fringe average, but he does a good job of stealing strikes on the outer part of the plate while driving swings and misses elevated or inside. Plus fastball with the velocity, traits, and results. Grade: 60
Slider: Slurvy breaking ball with mid-spin efficiency. Will have tighter offerings at 82-84 mph and more vertical breaking benders at 79-82 mph. Does a good job manipulating the pitch as needed and will land them for called strikes to higher and outside parts of the zone. Will lose feel at times and spike the pitch, and most of his hardest contact comes when he loses shape in the zone, but it's infrequent. Above average pitch with good raw spin rates in the 2750-2800 rpm range. Grade: 55
Changeup: Infrequently used and inconsistent third pitch, De La Cruz will show the ability to turn it over, and when he does he generates a fair amount of run. When he doesn't the pitch flattens out and looks like a bad fastball. Could be used more if he develops consistent feel for the pitch. It's a usable in game pitch now and flashes average or better in spurts. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Violent operations like De La Cruz's rarely lend themselves to consistent strike throwing or good command profiles, and Jasseel is no different. He is a bit of Jekyll and Hyde with his control as he'll pound the strike zone for long stretches driving swings and misses and soft contact, looking like a starting pitching prospect. Then as quickly as you can snap your fingers he loses it, misses with his fastball and slider to all parts of the zone. It typically only lasts for a batter or too, but it seemed to me, walks did him in more often than hard contact. There's some hope De La Cruz can get to an average level as a strike thrower but it likely settles in at fringe average control and below average command. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: De La Cruz possesses one of the best one-two punches in the Atlanta system due to his plus mid-to-upper-90s fastball and above average slider. Further refinement of his changeup and control + command are needed in order for him to maintain a starting role long term. Mechanically speaking it's questionable that De La Cruz's up-tempo high effort operation ever yields even fringe average command. For this reason we project his long term role in the pen with a real chance his stuff plays up enough to fit into a high leverage role. For now he's a spot starter profile that could handle some low leverage situations.
OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate
