CINCINNATI — Elly De La Cruz, the All-Star shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds, has been on a journey of rehabilitation after dealing with a left quadriceps strain that affected him during the latter part of the 2025 season. As Spring Training approaches, De La Cruz appears to have put the injury behind him, stating, “It took like a month, two months. It wasn’t that bad. I’m working hard, working a lot.”
After a long flight from the Dominican Republic with teammate Noelvi Marte, De La Cruz received a warm reception at Redsfest. Now 24 years old, he is eager to enhance every aspect of his game. “I want to take everything to the next step,” he said, emphasizing his drive to constantly improve and achieve more. Last season, De La Cruz posted a batting average of .264, with 22 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases, although he noticed a dip in his home run count during the second half due to his injury.
Despite battling through all 162 regular-season games, De La Cruz has expressed a desire to play every day. “I would like to play every day. I want to go out there every single day to try to help the team win,” he reiterated, although Reds manager Terry Francona acknowledged the need to provide De La Cruz with more rest to avoid burnout.
Looking ahead, De La Cruz will not participate in the World Baseball Classic this March as the Reds aim to utilize him fully during the Spring Training period. He respects the team’s decision but remains enthusiastic about future opportunities to represent his country.
The Reds are banking on De La Cruz’s ability to deliver even more in 2026, especially as they search for a powerful hitter to support him in their lineup. The young star has made notable improvements recently, reducing his strikeouts significantly from a league-leading 218 in 2024 to 181 in 2025. Reflecting on his experiences, De La Cruz remarked, “I learned I have to take care of myself before the game, after the game, in the field, outside of the field, like everywhere. And take responsibility for myself.”
With a new season on the horizon, the Cincinnati Reds look forward to De La Cruz’s continued growth and leadership on the field, hoping for a standout year as they prepare for the challenges ahead.