2023 Marlins Season Review: Bryan De La Cruz

[Ely Sussman]

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[Guest OneRegend]

I had DLC as the first home-grown Marlin post-2017 to have the potential to hit 25 HRs heading into this year. He didn't even clear 20.

 

The frustrating part with DLC is how wildly inconsistent he is. He would just go on blazing hot streaks, and then follow up those hot streaks with very long homer-less droughts. He'd be an easy 30-HR guy if he took his production in May or in July and extrapolated it for the entire season. Which makes it even more frustrating that he had the season he had this year. He has the potential, but just can't seem to realize it.

 

That's not even taking into account his numerous TOOTBLANs which have sadly become the post-2017 Marlins identity lately, nor his average corner outfield defense suddenly falling to ****.

 

I'm having a hard time believing that this season is his ceiling, because he has the tools to be way better than this, and he can use them successfully, but man it is frustrating to watch when the player can't put it together.

[Ely Sussman]

Totally agree. Capable of being a lot better, but not sure if he'll ever reach his potential. The first thing I was drawn to with him in 2021 was the defense. Can't understand how he became such a liability there.

[Guest OneRegend]

DLC's defense was quite good in 2021. Maybe not GG-like, but I expected at least league-average defense in the corners. It's strange how he went from that to one of the worst fielders in 2023.

 

To me, I see 2023 as a setback. He is so much better than this in every conceivable way.