Elly De La Cruz

Elly Antonio De La Cruz, a professional baseball infielder for the Cincinnati Reds, was born on January 11, 2002, in Sabana Grande de Boyá, in the Dominican Republic. Growing up as the youngest of nine siblings, De La Cruz developed a passion for baseball from a young age.

His professional journey started in 2018 when he signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent at the age of16, with a $65,000 signing bonus. The following year, at just 17, De La Cruz played his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Reds. The young prodigy showcased his talent by hitting 0.285, with one home run in 43 games, playing primarily as a shortstop.

Unfortunately, De La Cruz’s rising career faced a hiatus in 2020 as the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he made a triumphant return the next year, playing for the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Reds and Single–A Daytona Tortugas. With consistent performance throughout 61 games, experts vouched for his talent, leading Baseball America to name him the best player in the Arizona Complex League and the Reds’ organization’s fastest and best athlete.

Riding on his success, De La Cruz further demonstrated his prowess in 2022 by playing for the High-A Dayton Dragons and Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts. His commendable performance earned him a spot to represent the Reds in the All-Star Futures Game. The young ballplayer notched career–highs in home runs (28), RBIs (86), and stolen bases (47), being the first minor league player to hit this record since 2013. It won him awards including the Reds’ Minor League Player of the Year, the Baseball America Minor League Player of the year, and the much coveted Minor League Baseball’s Top Prospect.

Taking his rightful place in the Cincinnati Reds’ 40-man roster, De La Cruz kicked off the 2023 season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats. He hit a .298 batting average, with 12 home runs, and 36 RBIs, further solidifying his position within the team.

On June 6, 2023, following an injury to teammate Nick Senzel, De La Cruz was finally promoted to the major leagues. At the youthful age of 21, he was one of the youngest National League players and the tallest shortstops. His agility and impressive speed earned him the admiration of his peers, with teammate Joey Votto acknowledging him as “the best runner I’ve ever seen.” On his major league debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers, De La Cruz stunned audiences by hitting his first home run, a 458-foot shot.

Throughout 2023, De La Cruz continued to shine, demonstrating remarkable speed on the field, and shattering records, including stealing bases at an unprecedented pace. Statcast monitored him and fellow player Bobby Witt Jr. as the fastest players in MLB that year.

In May of 2024, setting a record not replicated since 2012, De La Cruz became the first MLB player to record four hits and four stolen bases in a single game. Followed by his 44th and 45th bases stole against the Colorado Rockies in July 2024, breaking the Reds’ record held by Billy Hamilton since 2015.

Named as a reserve player in the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, De La Cruz’s record streak continued when he became the first shortstop ever to hit at least 20 home runs and steal 60 bases in a single season. This achievement surmounted to him being only the fifth player since 1900 to do so, marking him as a rising superstar in the world of Major League Baseball. His life serves as a testament to the substance of raw talent, grit, determination, and the heights they can scale when honed with perseverance and discipline.