Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz has a new batting stance heading into the 2025 season. De La Cruz's new stance is more open, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith, while he also stands a bit taller. The stance is a more "controlled aggression" that is aimed at cutting down his strikeouts moving forward. The 23-year-old is already one of the most exciting young players in baseball, but he led the league with 218 strikeouts in 2024. In addition to leading MLB in K's, he led the league in errors (29), times caught stealing (16) and non-stealing outs on the bases (15), so he still has plenty to work on. De La Cruz had 25 home runs and a league-high 67 stolen bases as well, and if he can cut down on his strikeouts in 2025, he'll easily pay off his price as a top-five overall fantasy selection on draft day this spring.
Elly De La Cruz Looking To Reduce Strikeouts In 2025
Cincinnati Reds All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz is looking to reduce his strikeouts in 2025 with the help of new hitting coach Chris Valaika. At only 23 years old, De La Cruz is already one of the best players in baseball after leading MLB with 67 stolen bases in 2024 and leading the Reds with 25 home runs, 36 doubles and 10 triples in 160 games. However, he also led all of baseball in strikeouts (218), errors (29), times caught stealing (16) and non-stealing outs on the bases (15). The positives for De La Cruz outweighed the negatives, though, and he finished as the No. 5 fantasy hitter in rotisserie formats last year. With a ceiling as high as any in the big leagues because of his five-tool profile, De La Cruz should be considered a top-five fantasy selection in 2025 drafts, especially if he's able to make more contact at the plate in his second full season.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz showcased his game-breaking speed on Sunday, going 1-for-5 with a triple and two stolen bases in a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. De La Cruz finishes the season with 67 stolen bases, easily good enough for first in the majors. Interestingly enough, though, Elly only stole 10 bags in August and September combined, which equates to a 30-steal pace. That's not bad at all, but it's also not what fantasy managers would expect from the speedster. It was still a great season for the 22-year-old, who showed major improvements at the dish and contributed some power to go along with the speed. He will be a top-20 pick in most drafts next year and could rocket into the top 10 for those chasing upside.
Elly De La Cruz Has Monster Day At Plate, Smashes 25th Homer Of Season
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz had a monster day at the plate on Saturday, racking up three hits and four RBI in the Reds' 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. De La Cruz smashed a three run shot off Jared Jones in the fourth inning, his 25th HR of the season. His final statline was 3-5 with four RBI and two runs recorded. The 22-year-old's sophomore season continues to be a stellar one. Though he won't win the NL MVP, he's very likely to receive MVP votes and finish in the top three along with likely winner Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Fantasy managers have to be thrilled with De La Cruz's 2024 season and should look for more continued success in 2025 from the young superstar. He'll look to continue adding onto his impressive numbers on Sunday when he faces off against the Pirates' stellar rookie Paul Skenes.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz hit his first career grand slam in Friday's 8-4 win over the Twins. It was the 22-year-old's only hit of the night but gave the Reds a 7-1 cushion before they added another run an inning later. The dynamic youngster set the Reds' single-season record for home runs by a switch-hitter, now with 24 on the year. He's been scuffling at the plate recently, going just 5-for-32 (.156) over the last nine games. Still, he's put together a fine season, as the 2024 All-Star now has a .259-24-69-97-64 line with a .351 wOBA and 120 wRC+.
Elly De La Cruz Makes History With 22nd Homer, 60th Steal
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz joined the exclusive 20/60 club of just five players since 1900 in Wednesday night's win over the hosting Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, tallying three hits, his 22nd homer of the year, three runs, three RBI, and his 60th steal of the season in the victory. After singling to center field in the fifth inning to score Noelvi Marte and Jonathan India and make it 6-5 Reds, De La Cruz hit a solo homer off Blue Jays right-hander Zach Pop to left field in the eight frame to make the score 11-6 Cincinnati over Toronto on Wednesday. The 22-year-old switch-hitting phenom is now slashing .262/.345/.493 with 28 doubles, eight triples, 82 runs scored, and 56 RBI in 541 plate appearances (125 games) in his second season in 2024.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo shot on Monday as his team defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1. De La Cruz has had an impressive season so far and has been extraordinarily hot as of late. In his last seven games, he is slashing .333/.394/.533 with one home run, three RBI, five runs, and two stolen bases. Overall, the 22-year-old is slashing .266/.350/.499 with 21 home runs, 51 RBI, 78 runs, and 59 stolen bases over 117 games. His 2024 season has improved over his 2023 rookie campaign. However, De La Cruz is still far from a perfect baseball player and has room to improve. Still, he remains a very valuable fantasy asset and a must-start in all leagues.
Elly De La Cruz Posts Second Consecutive Four-Hit Game
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz collected another excellent offensive outing in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Marlins. De La Cruz went 4-for-5 with two singles, two doubles, two RBI, and a strikeout. He also stole his 58th base of the season. The 22-year-old has posted back-to-back four-hit games and has had a stellar start to August, slashing .381/.409/.857 with two home runs and three stolen bases in 21 at-bats. De La Cruz has seen increases in both batting average and power this season. These have been welcome surprises to fantasy managers, who were likely expecting a mediocre batting average with decent power and excellent speed.
Elly De La Cruz Collects Four Hits, Two Homers Monday
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz had another electric game at the plate in Monday's 10-3 win over the Marlins. De La Cruz went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a solo home run, and a two-run HR. The 22-year-old got things started by driving a first-inning Roddery Munoz cutter over the right-field wall for a two-run shot and added an even deeper drive to right field in the eighth inning off of Shaun Anderson. He had gone hitless in August, so it was nice to see a big game. De La Cruz has provided everything fantasy managers were hoping for, slashing .261/.347/.496 with 20 HR, 73 runs scored, 48 RBI, and 57 stolen bases in 474 plate appearances.
The Cincinnati Reds are giving shortstop Elly De La Cruz the day off on Monday in the series opener against the visiting division-rival Chicago Cubs. Manager David Bell promised De La Cruz that he'd get him a day off shortly after the All-Star break, and that day will come to begin the week. The 22-year-old phenom will start on the bench for only the third time this season. He picked up three hits and stole four bases on Sunday and now leads the big leagues with a whopping 55 steals in 104 games in his second year in the big leagues. De La Cruz can do it all, but he's also leading the league with 138 strikeouts in 448 plate appearances while slashing .263/.352/.490 with an .842 OPS, 18 home runs and 45 RBI. The first-time All-Star is a must-start in all fantasy lineups when he's in Cincy's starting lineup despite all of his strikeouts.
Elly De La Cruz
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Reds
