Elly De La Cruz does it all.
The Cincinnati Reds’ rookie phenom has been turning heads all season. On Saturday afternoon, he added another highlight to his already long reel.
The Reds’ top prospect, already becoming one of the best players in the game, stole not one, not two, but three bases, including home plate, on just two pitches.
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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) celebrates with first baseman Joey Votto (19) after scoring a run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at American Family Field. (Michael McLoone/USA Today Sports)
In the top of the seventh inning, De La Cruz gave the Reds a 6–5 lead with an RBI single. But that was far from his most impressive feat.
De La Cruz stole second to get into scoring position, but wanted to get even closer. So, he ended up stealing third two pitches later. But he never stopped moving.
So, as Milwaukee Brewers reliever Elvis Peguero prepared to throw a pitch, De La Cruz went home. Peguero threw home, but it was too late, and De La Cruz’s lightning speed made it 7-5.
They were De La Cruz’s 14th, 15th and 16th stolen bases of the season.
De La Cruz has been in the big leagues since June 6, but he may already be the most exciting player in MLB. He not only entered Saturday hitting .325 with a .904 OPS, but he’s also had a flair for the dramatic.
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Elly De La Cruz gestures after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. (Brad Mills/USA Today Sports)
In his 15th MLB game, he hit for the cycle, completing it with a triple. In his MLB debut, he got his first hit and came off the bat at 112 mph. His first MLB home run traveled 458 feet.
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Earlier this week, he found himself in trouble with Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez. The Nationals had his bat checked during a second-inning at-bat because he had a tracking device. The refs told him to remove it even though it was legal, but De La Cruz got the satisfaction from him.
In his next plate appearance, with the device on his bat, he hit a 455-foot home run, pointing to the device as some sort of mockery.
Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds steals home with Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras covering during the seventh inning on Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Martinez said he «didn’t like» the «mischief» and that «we can do without that.»
But whatever De La Cruz is doing is working in Cincinnati. The Reds are 23-7 since he was called up.
Not many expected the Reds to compete for a postseason spot, but they lead the NL Central by two games with a 50-40 record.