Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is making his bid for National League MVP with his historic start. In just his first full season in the majors, De La Cruz is on a record-setting pace to start the season. Earlier this week, the 22-year-old became the second player since 1900 with five homers and 10 stolen bases in the first 20 games of a season. The last player to achieve this feat was Ken Williams, who did so for the St. Louis Browns in 1922.
Cincinnati’s star shortstop has been one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball. De La Cruz ranks third in the majors with a .651 slugging percentage and fourth with a 1.063 OPS. His seven homers are tied for second in the National League, while his 15 stolen bases lead the major leagues. He is the only player in MLB history with a .300 average, five homers, 15 steals, and a 1.000 OPS through their first 24 games of a season. Also, De La Cruz is the fifth Reds player since 1901 to have three stolen bases and a homer in the same game. The 22-year-old passed Dave Concepción (24) as the youngest Reds player to do so.
Reds Star Elly De La Cruz Off to Historic Start
De La Cruz is currently on pace to hit 47 home runs, steal 101 bases, and drive in 122 runs. For context, Ronald Acuña Jr. won the 2023 NL MVP after hitting 41 homers, 106 RBI, and stealing 73 bases.
Elly De La Cruz is on pace to hit 47 home runs and steal 101 bases and score 155 runs and drive in 122 runs this year and that’s just ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/7QYi4nMlh9
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 25, 2024
Elly De La Cruz made his major league debut with the Reds on June 6th of last year, and he immediately gave the team a spark of new life. He hit his first major league home run, a 458-foot shot, against the Los Angeles Dodgers the day after his MLB debut. Two weeks later, the then-21-year-old became the youngest player since César Cedeño in 1972 to hit for the cycle. He finished his rookie season batting .235/.300/.410 with 13 home runs and 35 stolen bases in 98 games.
De La Cruz has quickly become one of the most electrifying players in baseball. This year, De La Cruz has refined his power at the plate as well as his speed on the basepaths. The young star is on a record-setting pace and is already making his case for this year’s National League MVP.
Photo Credit: © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
