(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz, promoted to the majors this week, was born to make history.
He is a physical specimen that appears once every decade or so.
He generates incredible exit velocities with his immense raw power, he can fly on the basepaths, and he has a good sense of the strike zone even though he doesn’t come without swing-and-miss issues.
He is already having a huge impact on the Reds’ up-and-coming roster, and is establishing franchise records for the 2023 season.
“5 at-bats into his @MLB career, @reds‘ Elly De La Cruz registered: The Reds’ two hardest-hit balls of ’23 (114.8, 112.0); the Reds’ two fastest sprint speeds of ’23 (30.9, 30.4); the Reds’ longest home run of ’23 (458) and MLB’s fastest home-to-3rd time of ’23 (10.83),” MLB Pipeline tweeted.
5 at-bats into his @MLB career, @reds‘ Elly De La Cruz registered:
The Reds’ two hardest-hit balls of ’23 (114.8, 112.0)
The Reds’ two fastest sprint speeds of ’23 (30.9, 30.4)
The Reds’ longest home run of ’23 (458)
MLB’s fastest home-to-3rd time of ’23 (10.83) pic.twitter.com/mYIkaUBziN
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 8, 2023
Five at-bats.
That’s what he has needed to write his name at the top of the team’s leaderboards for the season.
The two hardest-hit balls were a home run and a double, if you were wondering.
His sprint speed is something to behold.
It’s like watching Oneil Cruz, a similarly toolsy future star, play.
De La Cruz has 41 homers and 58 stolen bases since the start of the 2022 season, across four (!) levels: High-A, Double-A, Triple-A, and the majors.
The guy was playing in High-A last year around this time!
He is just too good for the minors and will try to prove that the adjustment to the majors won’t be a tough one for him.
Time will tell, but for now, De La Cruz looks like baseball’s next superstar.
The post Elly De La Cruz Is Making History With Every Swing appeared first on The Cold Wire.