LANCASTER, PA — Exciting news for baseball fans in Lancaster County! Two key players from the championship-winning Lancaster Barnstormers, right-handed pitcher Oscar De La Cruz and infielder Trace Loehr, are set to return to Clipper Magazine Stadium for the 2024 season. The announcement was made earlier this week by team manager, Ross Peeples.
Both De La Cruz and Loehr have played pivotal roles in the Barnstormers’ previous championship successes, making them the second and third players under contract for the upcoming campaign.
De La Cruz, who will be turning 29 this coming March, boasts a formidable record. In the 2022 season, he achieved a 9-3 record with a 4.26 ERA. However, it was during the postseason that the towering 6’6” right-hander from the Dominican Republic truly shone. After a narrow loss in the semifinal opener against Southern Maryland, De La Cruz led the team to a decisive 10-2 victory in the fifth game. He then went on to pitch a complete game in the Championship Series against High Point, securing the series with a 6-1 win and earning himself the MVP title.
After a brief hiatus due to injury in 2023, De La Cruz is poised to make his comeback. “Oscar was our lead guy the second half of the 2022 season,” said Peeples. “We’ll be thrilled to have him back in our rotation.”
Loehr, 28, has also been instrumental in the Barnstormers’ dual championship run. With a batting average of .238, 58 runs scored, 58 walks, and 20 bases stolen, Loehr’s contribution to the team cannot be overstated. In the previous season, he hit .275 with four home runs and 49 runs scored. His stellar performance earned him a spot on the Atlantic League’s Red, White and Blue all-defensive team in 2023.
“Trace is a gamer,” said Peeples. “He simply loves to compete and play the game. He brings a lot of value to the team in a lot of different ways. We are glad to have him back.”
The Barnstormers are set to begin their quest for a third consecutive Atlantic League title on April 25 at Long Island. Their 2024 season home opener will be held at Clipper Magazine Stadium on April 30 against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. With De La Cruz and Loehr back in the lineup, fans can look forward to another thrilling season of Barnstormers baseball!
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