Eulogio de la Cruz

Eulogio De La Cruz Martinez
(Frankie)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut June 18, 2007
• Final Game September 26, 2011
• Born March 12, 1984 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, D.R.
• Died March 14, 2021 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Eulogio de la Cruz, also known as Frankie de la Cruz, was part of a major deal in December of 2007. He was sent with Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Dallas Trahern, Mike Rabelo and Burke Badenhop from the Detroit Tigers to the Florida Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

De la Cruz was signed by Tigers' scout Ramon Pena in 2001 and started in the minors in 2002. He appeared in six games in the majors in each of 2007 with the Tigers and 2008 with the Marlins. His contract was purchased by the San Diego Padres for the 2009 season and he had another short stint in the majors, lasting three games this time. Overall, in his 15 games over three seasons, he had an 11.84 ERA in 19 innings, with no decisions and 11 strikeouts against 21 walks, his lack of control being his biggest challenge.

He signed with the Yakult Swallows for 2010. After several months in ni-gun, he was called up and debuted on June 15 against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He allowed three hits in two innings but no runs. He went back to the United States in 2011, signing as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched 11 games and 13 innings, with a 2.77 ERA at the end of the year, but was not on the team's roster for the postseason. He had spent most of the year with the AAA Nashville Sounds, going 7-6, 3.88 as a starter, with 126 strikeouts in 137 innings. In 2012, he moved to the Chicago Cubs organization, being assigned to the AAA Iowa Oaks, but he never returned to the big leagues. He continued pitching in various places until the winter of 2020-21, when he appeared in 7 games for the Toros del Este in the Dominican League. Shortly after that and two days after his 37th birthday, he passed away from a heart attack on March 14, 2021.

Related Sites

• Frankie De La Cruz on mlb.com
• Obituary