On Friday, Cubs #3 prospect Oscar de la Cruz was suspended 80 games for violating the MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He tested positive for the performance enhancing drug (PED) Furosemide. The drug is a diuretic and masking agent that is allegedly used to hide other PEDs or possibly even steroids. Mariners’ second basemen Robinson Canó was also suspended 80 games in May for using the exact same drug. The Cubs issued the following statement following the suspension.
We are disappointed to learn today that Oscar De La Cruz has violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The Cubs fully support the Program and its efforts to remove performance enhancing drugs from the game. We also expect Oscar to learn from this experience and will support him on his journey back. Per Program protocol, the Cubs will not comment further on this matter.
The 23-year-old hasn’t been doing good so far this year in Double-A for the Tennessee Smokies. He has posted a 6-7 record, 5.24 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 73 strikeouts, 31 walks, and a .259 BAA in 77.1 innings pitched and 16 games started. He has had some injuries during his minor league career though. He has been on the 7-day DL twice with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, once on June 1, 2017 and the other on September 6, 2017. Throughout his entire career in the minors, he has posted some pretty good stats including a 26-17 record, 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 321 strikeouts, 96 walks, and a .233 BAA in 332 innings pitched and 69 games/65 games started.
Scouts have praised de la Cruz for his high velocity. They said his fastball consistently reaches 91-97 mph and it’s hard to hit because of its movement and angle to the batter’s eye. His ratings consist of a 60 fastball, 60 curveball, 50 changeup, and a 55 control which all end up to a 50 overall. They have said that if his injury history doesn’t hurt him as much in the future, he could end up being a solid #3 starter for the Cubs. As a Cubs fan myself, I hope de la Cruz can learn from this to end up being a possible solid starter for the Cubs in the future.
The MLB Enthusiast 