Bryan De La Cruz has five years of major league experience and wants nothing more than to get back there.

Felix Reyes has spent the last five years climbing through the Phillies’ minor league system, and is now one step away from where De La Cruz has been.

The duo delivered as two-thirds of the top part of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs lineup in the franchise’s 18th season opener on Friday night at Coca-Cola Park. Reyes singled twice and doubled twice in five at-bats. De La Cruz walked four times in a 5-2 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens in front of 7,459 fans.

Both outfielders dream of being somewhere else soon, for sure, but for now they are here to help themselves and one another.

“It’s just about being mature, professional teammates,” Lehigh Valley second-year hitting coach Adam Lind said. “Talking to each other about hitting, about defense because they’re both outfielders, what you do off the field to get ready, how to work during pregame then talking through at-bats.”

Lind, too, has been there. He climbed through the Blue Jays system and spent parts of 12 years in the majors before finishing up in 2018 with two organizations’ Triple-A teams.

It is not unique.

But De La Cruz and Reyes did themselves well by having a solid spring training in front of the Phillies brass. De La Cruz batted .326 in 17 games in his first spring with the organization. Reyes, coming off a breakthrough 2025 campaign in which he hit a combined .331 between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, slashed .303/.324/.606 in 18 spring games.

“[De La Cruz] is a mature hitter, very polished,” Lind added. “He had a great spring training and had a lot of success in the major leagues. I’m happy he’s on the team. I think he’ll certainly be a middle-of-the-order bat.

“[Reyes] is a super talented, smart hitter. He hits the ball as hard as anybody. He makes adjustments in his at-bats, which is advanced, something mature hitters, older hitters do — especially in the major leagues. I’m really excited to see the next step in his career.”

De La Cruz began his pro career in 2014 with the Astros in the Dominican Summer League. The 29-year-old was traded at the deadline in 2021 to the Marlins. He made his MLB debut three days later.

Three years later, De La Cruz was traded again at the deadline to the Pirates. He signed a free agent deal the following year to the Braves, who he played in 16 games for.

De La Cruz signed with the Phillies in November and provides insurance for the parent club which opened its season Thursday with prospect Justin Crawford, offseason signee Adolis Garcia, Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp playing the outfield.

Reyes, the 2025 Eastern League MVP and batting champion, is a corner outfielder who can also play first base. The 25-year-old Dominican Republic native batted .219, .220, .263 and .243 in his first four pro seasons before last year’s breakout when he slashed .335/.365/.572 in 95 games for Double-A Reading.

“He’s a big, strong kid,” Lind said, “who has an extremely simple swing. He’s on the fastball. His swing is repeatable. He does a lot of things really well.”

The Phillies earlier this week signed more outfield insurance when Oscar Mercado returned to the organization after slashing .249/.369/.373 in 115 games last season in Lehigh Valley. The 31-year-old Colombia native spent parts of five seasons in the majors with the Indians, Phillies and Cardinals.

Cade Fergus, a 13th-round pick in 2022, and Pedro Leon, a 27-year-old played last season in the Astros system, are the other outfielders on the IronPigs season-opening roster.

Roster moves

INF Sergio Alcántara and OF Óscar Mercado were signed to minor league contracts on Thursday are on Lehigh Valley’s active roster.

INF Christian Cairo had his contract selected by the Phillies and was optioned to the IronPigs on Wednesday. He was Friday’s starting lineup.

RHP John McMillon placed on the Development List.

1B Keaton Anthony (right foot surgery), RHP Andrew Bechtold (right shoulder discomfort), RHP Michael Mercado (right shoulder tear), SS Aidan Miller (lower back discomfort), OF Gabe Rincones (left knee discomfort) and INF José Rodriguez (right shoulder tear) were placed on the 7-day injured list.

INF Erick Brito (left hand surgery), C Mark Kolozsvary (left knee surgery) and RHP Daniel Robert (cardiac event) were placed on the 60-Day IL.

Up next

RHP Zack Wheeler (MLB rehab) will pitch three innings or 50 pitches vs. Toledo RHP Ty Madden in a 4:35 p.m. start from Coca-Cola Park in Game 2 of the three-game series. Wheeler threw a live BP earlier in the week for the first time since having venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last September.

RHP Orion Kerkering (right hamstring) also will work an inning in Saturday’s game. He is expected to stay with the team when it travels next week to Durham and eventually work back-to-back games.

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com