Eugene's De La Cruz Named Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Month
September 3, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Eugene Emeralds News Release
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today named Double-A Tennessee outfielder Albert Almora and Single-A Eugene right-handed pitcher Oscar De La Cruz the organization's minor league player and pitcher of the month for August, respectively.
De La Cruz, 20, went 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA (9 ER/29.2 IP) in five starts with Eugene, striking out 32 batters and walking just five. He held opponents to a .209 average (23-for-110) and a .250 on-base percentage while posting a 0.94 WHIP. He allowed zero earned runs in three of his five outings and did not walk more than one batter in four of his five starts.
De La Cruz led the Northwest League in August in innings pitched, strikeouts, opponents' average and WHIP, while tying for the lead in wins and ranking sixth in ERA. He earned Pitcher of the Week honors for August 24-30 after striking out a career-high 13 batters in 7.0 innings, August 26 vs. Spokane. He collected the win as he allowed just one hit and one unearned run in the Emeralds 4-1 triumph.
After spending each of the last two seasons with the Cubs' Dominican Summer League team, De La Cruz is in his first season with Eugene and was named a Northwest League Midseason All-Star. He has gone 6-3 with a 2.84 ERA (23 ER/73.0 IP) in 13 starts for the Emeralds, striking out 73 batters and walking just 17. He has recorded a 1.00 WHIP and held opponents to a .211 average. Originally signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in October of 2012, the Dominican Republic native has gone 15-4 with a 2.60 ERA (46 ER/159.0 IP) in 31 career minor league outings, all but three as a starter.
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Northwest League Stories from September 3, 2015
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- Eugene's De La Cruz Named Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Month - Eugene Emeralds
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