The Yankees claimed De La Cruz off waivers from Atlanta on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
After starting the season with a .453 OPS through 50 plate appearances, De La Cruz was sent down to Triple-A in mid-April and eventually landed on waivers when his performance didn't improve in the minors. He'll remain in Triple-A upon joining his new club but will reclaim a 40-man roster spot, replacing Giancarlo Stanton (elbows).
De La Cruz had an opportunity to stake claim to a regular role in the Atlanta outfield, but he managed just a .453 OPS and didn't drive in a single run in 16 games. He's being replaced on the roster by Alex Verdugo, who was called up from Triple-A.
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Braves' Bryan De La Cruz: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
De La Cruz is not in Atlanta's starting lineup against Tampa Bay on Sunday, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
De La Cruz has gone 0-for-7 with one walk, one stolen base and five strikeouts over the first two games of the series. He'll retreat to the dugout for the series finale while Eli White starts in left field and bats ninth against Rays right-hander Joe Boyle.
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Braves' Bryan De La Cruz: Making first start of 2025
Rotowire
De La Cruz is starting in right field and batting seventh against the Dodgers on Monday.
De La Cruz came in as a pinch hitter twice during Atlanta's road series against San Diego. Monday will be his first start of the 2025 season, and he'll see everyday role in the outfield until Ronald Acuna (knee) comes back following Jurickson Profar's 80-game suspension by Major League Baseball for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. De La Cruz split time with Atlanta and Miami across 149 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with a slash line of .233/.271/.384 with 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 621 plate appearances.
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Braves' Bryan De La Cruz: Looks ready for Opening Day
Rotowire
De La Cruz is batting .297 (11-for-37) through 15 Grapefruit League appearances with a 3:6 BB:K.
While the 28-year-old outfielder hasn't left the yard yet this spring, three of De La Cruz's hits have been doubles. The former Marlin is in line to handle the short side of a platoon in right field alongside Jarred Kelenic while Ronald Acuna completes his recovery from knee surgery, a role that should suit De La Cruz -- he slashed .285/.309/.425 in 188 plate appearances against left-handed pitching last year, versus a .210/.254/.365 line off righties in 433 PAs.
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Braves' Bryan De La Cruz: Sets for short-side platoon role
Rotowire
De La Cruz is expected to platoon in right field with Jarred Kelenic until Ronald Acuna (knee) is cleared to return to the lineup, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
As the right-handed hitter of the duo, De La Cruz would be on the short side of that platoon, although manager Brian Snitker could also choose to ride the hot hand. De La Cruz slashed .285/.309/.425 in 188 regular-season plate appearances against left-handed pitching in 2024, albeit with a 25.0 percent strikeout rate against a meager 3.2 percent walk rate, so he would appear to have a reasonable chance of thriving in that role over the first month or so of the season until Acuna is back in action.
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Braves' Bryan De La Cruz: Inks deal with Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta signed De La Cruz on Sunday to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.
De La Cruz began the 2024 season with Miami before being dealt to Pittsburgh at the deadline. The outfielder slashed .233/.271/.384 on the year with a career-high 21 home runs, 61 runs scored and 68 RBI. The soon-to-be 28-year-old will look to compete for a spot on Atlanta's regular-season roster.
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Bryan De La Cruz: Won't stick in Pittsburgh
Rotowire
The Pirates non-tendered De La Cruz on Friday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Pirates acquired De La Cruz at the trade deadline, but he slashed just .200/.220/.394 across 168 plate appearances in Pittsburgh. With Billy Cook and Nick Yorke options to start in right field, the team will let De La Cruz hit free agency.
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Pirates' Bryan De La Cruz: Not in lineup again
Rotowire
De La Cruz is absent from Sunday's lineup against the Yankees.
De La Cruz will begin Sunday's contest on the bench as Nick Yorke gets the start in right field and bats seventh. Since being acquired by the Pirates from the Marlins in late July, De La Cruz has slashed .200/.220/.294 with three home runs and 17 RBI across 168 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Bryan De La Cruz: Getting breather Saturday
Rotowire
De La Cruz isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.
After going 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Friday's series opener, De La Cruz will sit down for the penultimate game of the regular season while Joshua Palacios takes over in right field.
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Pirates' Bryan De La Cruz: Pops 21st homer
Rotowire
De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Brewers.
De La Cruz has struggled since joining the Pirates, as he's hitting only .196 with three homers and 17 RBI across 42 games. He has managed to go yard twice in his last seven starts, also knocking in five in that span.
Pirates' Bryan De La Cruz: Exiting lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
De La Cruz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
De La Cruz will get a break after he went 3-for-11 with a double, a walk and a run scored while starting in each of the last three games. Utility man Nick Yorke will occupy De La Cruz's usual spot in right field.
De La Cruz is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Cincinnati.
De La Cruz had started each of the previous four games and seven of the last eight contests in right field, but he will begin this one on the bench. Billy Cook is in right field and batting ninth for the Pirates.
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