MACK – Let’s Revisit - LHRP - Felipe De La Cruz
Felipe De La Cruz is a left-handed pitcher (LHP/LHRP prospect) in the New York Mets organization; his main repertoire is a mid-90s sinker/fastball (up to ~98 mph in relief) + gyro slider (mid-80s), with a changeup as a tertiary pitch. Background
- Born May 26, 2001 (age 25), Yamasa, Dominican Republic. 6'0", 160 lbs, B/T: L/L.
- Signed by the Mets as an international free agent in March 2021.
- Primarily a starter earlier in his career but has transitioned toward more relief work (especially noted in 2025–2026). He has bounced between Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Triple-A Syracuse Mets. As of early August 2026, he was placed on the 7-day IL with Binghamton (later activated per some reports). He remains a minor-league arm, not yet on the 40-man roster in available updates.
2026 - AA/Binghamton: 33-apps, 1-2, 2.81,1.37, 41.2-IP, 25-BB, 53-K
Pitch Repertoire / ArsenalScouting and game reports describe a relatively simple, effective mix that plays particularly well in shorter relief outings:- Primary fastball / sinker: Mid-90s (typically averages ~94–96 mph). Touches 97–98 mph in shorter relief stints. Often described as a sinker; generates ground balls and plays up from a three-quarters arm slot with some “sling.”
- Gyro slider: Mid-80s (roughly 84–88 mph, often noted around 85–87). His main secondary/out pitch; high usage and swing-and-miss generator.
- Changeup: Occasional third pitch (used sparingly—e.g., only a handful of times in a 70-pitch Triple-A start). Listed in earlier media guides alongside a four-seamer option.
Earlier organizational notes (2024) listed the repertoire as 4-seam, slider, and changeup; more recent observations emphasize the sinker + gyro slider combination. He has shown strong strikeout rates at times (high K-BB% in limited samples) and has drawn attention as a potential big-league lefty bullpen option when the Mets need LHRP help, though command and consistency have been works in progress across levels.
6 comments:
Felipe needs to add 2 MPH and give Jefry Yan some competition.
Arizona had a fun game last night. Thought I was reading a DSL box score. 17 runs on 10 hits…and 13 walks.
The three Mets hitters went 2 for 11 - but scored 6 runs, because they walked 6 times. Mathis seems to be heating up. The other two are walking, not hitting.
Tom's comment reminds me of something I have always wanted to add in here somewhere, so this is as good a place as any to do so: While it obviously makes sense to compare our minor leaguers to other in our organization for purposes of predicting who is closest to major league ready, etc. the most important comparison is with the better players at the same position on other teams and their affiliated minor league teams.
When a pitcher's K's are double his BB's, he has a future.
Yes, and Baro and Agbayani were batting 8th and 9th. Agbayani stole two bases.
Ziegler also got slapped around a little.
Cruz will probably become a free agent
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