Cincinnati Reds All-Star Elly De La Cruz became the first shortstop in MLB history to record a 25-home run, 65-stolen base campaign on Saturday. He is the youngest player to do so regardless of position. However, the 22-year-old has much loftier goals for the future.
Following his record-setting accomplishment, De La Cruz responded to a question while speaking with reporters about one day joining Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in the 50-50 club.
"Oh yeah. I would like to do," De La Cruz said via Bally Sports Cincinnati. "But, it's hard to do."
Considering that Ohtani was the first to do it on Sept. 19, equaling the feat would be challenging. Nevertheless, De La Cruz has made a habit of making the difficult look easy early in his career.
On Saturday, De La Cruz had a four-RBI day, finishing 3-of-5 with a double and homer No. 25 in the Reds' 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. While he's the first shortstop to join the 25-60 club, he's only the fifth member overall, along with Ronald Acuna Jr. (2023), Rickey Henderson (1990, 1986), Eric Davis (1986) and Joe Morgan (1973), per Stathead.
ELLY DE LA BOOM
— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024
WHERE DID THIS BASEBALL LAND?! pic.twitter.com/1VaxHYHowN
With a stellar start to his career, De La Cruz has already etched his name in the record books in other ways, too. He's the only player to register 100 extra-base hits and 100 stolen bases through their first two seasons in the league and just the third player in the live-ball era to swipe 100 bags in that space, joining Vince Coleman and Henderson, according to Bleacher Report.
There's no way of predicting whether De La Cruz will post a 50-50 season one day. However, the desire and skill set are there for a player who has yet to finish his second full MLB season.
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