Kelvin De La Cruz

Kelvin De La Cruz - Left-handed Pitcher
Age: 19 Height: 6'5" Weight: 187 Bats: Left Throws: Left

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 GCL/Mahoning	5	4	3.11	15	15	0	72.3	48	25	6	36	73	4.48	9.09	1.16
Career	9	9	3.90	37	31	1	145.3	129	63	11	65	127	4.03	7.87	1.34

History: De La Cruz was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in December of 2004. In 2005, he turned 17-years old halfway through the season in the Dominican Summer League, and went 3-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 13 games (12 starts).

Strengths & Opportunities: De La Cruz pitches with his fastball and has a feel for three pitches. Last year, De La Cruz showed much improved arm strength as his fastball velocity jumped up to 88-92 MPH and topped out at 93 MPH, where the previous year it was only 84-86 MPH. His fastball velocity could still increase because he is still young and getting bigger and stronger. He compliments his fastball with a curveball and changeup. The changeup has the makings of a plus pitch and has swing and miss value and depth. His curveball is a 12-6 hammer with the makings of an average breaking ball.

He has the size, the pitches, and the intelligence to grow a lot in the coming years. He projects as a future starter, showing an aggressive approach on the mound where he challenges hitters and pounds the strike zone. He is very athletic and fields his position well. He has good attention to detail, and is a student of the game. He has a promising future because he is young, strong and powerful, which is a good combination. At 6'5", he is a very tall kid, and as he matures he should get bigger and stronger as he fills into his frame.

De La Cruz started the season with the short-season rookie level Gulf Coast League (GCL) Indians. He was moved up very quickly because he was not getting challenged, as in three starts he was 3-0 with a 0.50 ERA and held opponents to a .117 batting average and struck out 20 and had 2 walks in 18 innings pitched. When he was sent to Mahoning Valley in early July, he struggled in his first start and only lasted a third of an inning giving up six runs on one hit and five walks. De La Cruz responded really well after that, as in his followup start to his disastrous debut, De La Cruz went five no-hit innings and combined with two other pitchers to throw a no-hitter (July 12th).

De la Cruz still has a long way to go. Being young, he still has an issue with walks (5.63 BB/9 in Mahoning Valley) and needs to throw strikes more consistently. He needs to continue refining his control and command of his pitches so that he can setup hitters to get themselves out as he moves up the minor league ladder. Also, he needs to work on being more consistent with repeating his delivery.

Outlook: De La Cruz has a chance to be really good in the near future and is one of the top up-and-coming pitching prospects in the system. To show how highly regarded he is with the Indians, in the instructional league they had him and top left-handed pitching prospect Chuck Lofgren work together a lot during individualized instruction. 2008 has a chance to be a breakout year for De La Cruz, and he should start the season as the anchor of the starting pitching staff at Lake County.

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