Maximino De la cruz

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #26 prospect in 2005
  De la Cruz shows a power repertoire with the ability to understand pitching at a young age. He ranked third in the Gulf Coast League in ERA in 2004, flashing a plus fastball and curveball. His fastball works in the 90-91 mph range, topping out at 93-94 with good movement. His skinny build and loose arm allow scouts to project more velocity. De la Cruz has drawn physical comparisons to Pascual Perez and former Phillies farmhand Ezequiel Astacio. His breaking ball could become a power pitch because of its bite. It has improved markedly since the Phillies signed him, but it still lacks consistency. De la Cruz needs to improve his changeup while enhancing his command across the board. He has some effort in his delivery, and he needs to mature, both from a physical and mental perspective. He'll go to Batavia for 2005, with more experience his key to progressing at this point.