In the 2018 season, De La Cruz played for Quad Cities and the Buies Creek Astros, hitting a combined .289/.367/.375 with two home runs and 62 RBI.[2] De La Cruz split the 2019 season between the Fayetteville Woodpeckers and Corpus Christi, hitting a combined .280/.340/.428 with eight home runs and 43 RBI.[2][3] De La Cruz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He opened the 2021 season with the Sugar Land Skeeters, hitting .324/.362/.518 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI over 66 games with them.[4][5]
Miami Marlins
On July 28, 2021, the Astros traded De La Cruz and Austin Pruitt to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Yimi García.[6] On July 30, Miami selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that night against the New York Yankees.[7] On August 13, De La Cruz hit his first career grand slam off of Chicago Cubs starter Adbert Alzolay.[8] In 58 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .296 with five home runs and 19 RBI.
De La Cruz made the Marlins' Opening Day roster for the 2022 season.[9] He played in a 115 games for Miami during the season, slashing .252/.294/.432 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI.[10] De La Cruz made 153 appearances for the Marlins during the 2023 campaign, batting .257/.304/.411 with career–highs in home runs (19) and RBI (78).[11]
De La Cruz played in 105 contests for Miami in 2024, hitting .245/.289/.417 with 18 home runs, 51 RBI, and three stolen bases. At the time of his trade, he was the Marlins' season leader in home runs and RBI.[12]