After six seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Carlos De La Cruz’s journey in the organization has come to an end, but his career is far from over.
The former top prospect, who once ranked as high as No. 9 in the Phillies’ farm system, has signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, remaining in the National League East.
De La Cruz, a towering 6-foot-8 outfielder, was brought into the Phillies’ system in 2017 despite going undrafted out of high school. Initially viewed as a promising power hitter, he climbed through the minor leagues, impressing with his raw strength and ability to hit home runs, even though his strikeout rates remained high.
His best performance came in 2023 with the Reading Fightin Phils, where he hit 24 home runs and posted a solid .797 OPS, though his strikeout rate remained a concern.
In 2024, De La Cruz struggled at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he batted just .190 with a .516 OPS and continued to battle his swing-and-miss tendencies. The Phillies, after seeing enough of his struggles, decided to part ways, allowing him to sign with the Nationals for a fresh start.
Currently, De La Cruz has not been invited to spring training with Washington, meaning he will need to prove himself once again in a bid to make an impact on the Nationals’ young roster.
