Fans around Major League Baseball are awaiting the Winter Meetings to officially begin, and it has been a slow start to free agency for most teams across the league. The Philadelphia Phillies made a minor move earlier in the offseason, signing Bryan De La Cruz to a one-year minor-league deal.
De La Cruz has previously played for the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Atlanta Braves. The Phillies will be his fourth team as he enters what should be the prime years of his career, looking to revive his trajectory with a new opportunity after a down season with the Braves.
Fans should get excited about Bryan De La Cruz's winter production and what he might bring to Phillies
Like many players, especially with something to prove, De La Cruz has chosen to play winter league ball this offseason to find his rhythm. He is currently playing for Toros del Este in the Dominican Winter League. Through 31 games, his performance should catch the attention of Phillies fans.
De La Cruz is averaging more than a hit per game, with 37 in 31 contests, and owns a .316/.383/.530 slash line. Twelve of his 37 hits have gone for extra bases, including six home runs, and he has driven in a league-leading 32 runs. He also ranks first with an impressive .913 OPS.
#ToroVideo Llegó la remolcada No. 20 de la temporada para Bryan de la Cruz pic.twitter.com/trvMGiRsnM
— Toros Del Este (@TorosdelEste) November 26, 2025
While winter league numbers don’t guarantee spring training success, this is an extremely promising sign for the Phillies, especially as the organization looks to improve its depth and add valuable bench players.
Still just 28, De La Cruz is searching for his next break in baseball. After a promising first season, during which he posted a .296/.356/.427 slash line with 14 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs in 58 games for the Marlins, he was viewed as a potential power bat from the right side. The Phillies hope he can rediscover the early-career production, as they need a power bat from the right side.
His most productive home-run season came in 2024, when he hit a combined 21 homers across two teams. The Phillies believe they can help him return to that level. He’ll have a real opportunity to make the big-league roster out of spring training as the club looks for outfield depth and a strong bat off the bench.
If De La Cruz can carry this momentum into spring training and at least push the competition, it will go a long way for the club. With an offseason still full of questions, De La Cruz is hoping to become one of the early answers.