Elly De La Cruz is the real deal.
De La Cruz, a 21-year-old shortstop phenom, was just called up this week by the Cincinnati Reds. He made his MLB debut on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 1-for-3 with two walks. De La Cruz’s hit was a 112 mph two-bagger that he smoked off Dodgers righty Tony Gonsolin (the hardest-hit ball by a Reds player all season).
That was just an appetizer, as De La Cruz outdid himself against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Batting in the bottom of the first inning, De La Cruz blasted a 458-foot missile off Noah Syndergaard for a two-run home run to get Cincinnati on the board.
Having signed with the Reds as an international free agent in 2018, De La Cruz was torching minor league pitching this season. He hit .298 with 12 home runs, 36 RBI and 11 stolen bases … in just 38 games. He has all the makings of a five-tool star with prodigious speed and defensive athleticism to go along with his raw power.
The 28-33 Reds don’t have very high hopes for this season. Even their local game broadcasts were in limbo just a few weeks ago. But De La Cruz is a must-see attraction who will give all baseball fans a reason to tune into Cincinnati games for the rest of the year.
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