You've probably seen the highlights by now. A lanky lefty on the mound, a fastball that jumps at the hitter, and a slider that makes professional batters look like they’re swinging at ghosts. That’s Felipe De La Cruz. If you haven't been paying attention to the New York Mets farm system over the last year, you’ve missed one of the most organic, "where did this guy come from?" surges in recent memory.
Honestly, the baseball world loves a sleeper story. We all want to be the one who spotted the kid in High-A before he becomes a household name. De La Cruz is basically that story personified. Born in Yamasa, Dominican Republic, back in May 2001, he didn't arrive with the $5 million signing bonus or the immediate "can't-miss" label. He just... got better. Fast.
The Triple-A Statement That Changed Everything
Most prospects "arrive" when they hit Triple-A. For Felipe De La Cruz, that arrival happened in May 2025 with the Syracuse Mets. Most guys are nervous in their Triple-A debut. Not him. He went six innings against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and allowed exactly one hit. One.
He struck out nine batters that day. No walks. That’s the kind of performance that makes a front office stop talking about "potential" and start looking at the 40-man roster. It wasn't just a fluke, either. Earlier in his 2024 stint with the Brooklyn Cyclones, he mowed down 13 guys in a single game. When a lefty starts posting double-digit strikeout games regularly, the "crafty southpaw" label goes out the window. This is power pitching.
What Makes Felipe De La Cruz Different?
If you look at the raw stats, he’s listed at 6'0" and about 160 pounds. He isn't some massive, intimidating presence like a Randy Johnson or an Aroldis Chapman. He’s wiry. But that build allows for incredible flexibility and a whip-like arm action that is kinda deceptive for hitters.
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His arsenal is basically built around three pillars:
The Fastball. It sits in the mid-90s but plays up because of the extension he gets. Hitters consistently swing under it. It’s got that "late life" that scouting directors drool over.
The Slider. This is the bread and butter. Scouts from Baseball America and FanGraphs have bumped his slider grade significantly over the last 18 months. It’s sharp, it’s tight, and he can throw it for strikes or as a chase pitch in the dirt.
The Command. This is where most young flamethrowers fail. They have the "stuff" but can't find the plate. De La Cruz has shown a surprising ability to limit walks. In that Syracuse debut I mentioned? Zero walks. That's the difference between a future MLB starter and a career minor league reliever.
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Different Faces, Same Name: Clearing Up the Confusion
Wait. If you Google "Felipe de la Cruz," you might see some very intense political news from Mexico. It’s important to distinguish the two because they couldn't be more different. One is a young pitcher for the Mets; the other is a well-known activist and former spokesperson for the families of the 43 missing students from Ayotzinapa.
The activist Felipe de la Cruz Sandoval spent years in the headlines challenging the Mexican government and eventually stepped down from his spokesperson role to pursue a career in politics with the Morena party around 2021. If you're here for sports, you're looking for the kid from Yamasa. If you're here for human rights history, you're looking for the man from Guerrero. They share a name, but their worlds never cross.
The Path to Queens in 2026
So, what’s the move for the Mets in 2026? As we stand here in early 2026, the buzz is at an all-time high. The Mets' pitching depth has been tested, and De La Cruz is no longer just a "prospect to know." He’s a legitimate option.
Scouts like Eric Longenhagen have been tracking his rise through the ranks—from being an unranked "follower" to a Top 30, and eventually Top 20, organizational prospect. His WHIP in Double-A Binghamton was a solid 1.18. While he saw a slight bump to 1.66 during his initial Syracuse adjustment, the underlying metrics—the strikeout-to-walk ratios—remained elite.
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The jump from the International League to Citi Field is the hardest one in sports. But for a guy who bats and throws left-handed with a 60-grade slider, the opportunity is usually only one injury or one roster shuffle away.
How to Track His Progress
If you want to keep an eye on his trajectory this season, don't just look at the wins and losses. That’s an old-school way of thinking that doesn't tell the whole story. Instead, watch these three things:
- The Strikeout Percentage (K%): If he stays above 25-28%, he's dominating.
- The Velocity: If that fastball starts touching 97-98 mph as he fills out his 160-pound frame, he moves from "middle-of-the-rotation" potential to "front-line" starter.
- The Third Pitch: He’s been working on a changeup. If that becomes even an average pitch, right-handed hitters won't have a chance.
Felipe De La Cruz has gone from a lottery ticket to a high-value asset. Whether he starts the season in the rotation or serves as a high-leverage weapon out of the bullpen, the "Yamasa Lefty" is about to become a staple of New York baseball conversations.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the Syracuse Mets box scores every five days. Pay attention specifically to his walk counts in the first three innings; if he's hitting his spots early, a call-up to the big leagues is likely imminent. You should also check the Mets' 40-man roster moves before the All-Star break, as that’s the most probable window for his Major League debut.