Star rookie has message for Nationals after homer

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Elly De La Cruz Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie sensation has message for Nationals after home run

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 7/5/23

Elly De La Cruz had a message for the Washington Nationals after hitting a home run against them on Wednesday night.

De La Cruz came up to bat in the second inning for his first plate appearance of the game. Before he could get started in the box against Josiah Gray, the Nationals requested that the umpires check De La Cruz’s bat. Washington was concerned about a tracking device under the knob of the Reds shortstop’s bat.

Dave Martinez and the Nationals had umpires check @Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz's bat before his plate appearance in a confusing start to the second inning. pic.twitter.com/f4AZdZxpGi

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) July 5, 2023

The device below the knob was removed and De La Cruz was cleared to bat. The emerging star ultimately struck out that at-bat.

De La Cruz came up again in the third and flew out. But in the fifth, things changed. De La Cruz led off the inning with a home run to right that was estimated to travel 455 feet.

After hitting his homer, De La Cruz looked at the Nats’ dugout and pointed to the knob of his bat, as if to say “check this.”

Check this out @ellylacocoa18 pic.twitter.com/zRtZZjOScs

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 6, 2023

Perhaps the youngster was offended by Washington’s move.

De La Cruz struck out in his fourth at-bat, but he later doubled and then stole third in the eighth. The 21-year-old prospect is one of three players on a young Reds team who is batting over .300 this season.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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