Watch: Elly De La Cruz’s Jaw-Dropping 450-Ft Homer Has Reds Fans Buzzing

CINCINNATI—Elly De La Cruz is turning another summer into a nightly highlight reel, and the baseball world is scrambling to keep up. The 23-year-old Cincinnati Reds shortstop has parlayed jaw-dropping athleticism into a nationally recognized All-Star berth, a historic statistical pace, and even bold projections from the franchise’s legends. Two-time All-Star by 23 When MLB unveiled its 2025 All-Star rosters, De La Cruz was the lone Red to earn a spot on the National League squad, giving him two selections in as many big-league seasons. The honor underscores a first half in which he’s slashing .277/.336/.500 with 25 homers, 72 runs scored and 34 stolen bases—numbers that put him on pace for the first 35-35 season in franchise history. Historic milestones keep piling up Last weekend in Miami, the switch-hitter recorded his 100th hit of the season, becoming the fastest Red to triple-digit knocks since Pete Rose in 1965. He also reached 50 career home runs in just 184 games, shattering the previous franchise mark held by Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. Hall of Fame chatter already The hype crescendoed Monday when Reds legend Barry Larkin predicted that De La Cruz “may go down as the most dynamic player this organization has ever seen” if his current growth curve continues. Larkin pointed to the Dominican star’s refined plate discipline—his chase rate is down 7% from 2024—and his league-best average sprint speed (30.5 ft/s) as reasons the ceiling keeps rising. Why he skipped the Home Run Derby Fans hoping for a Derby showcase will have to wait. De La Cruz declined the invitation, citing a desire to “stay fresh for the pennant push” as Cincinnati sits just three games back in the NL Central. Manager David Bell endorsed the decision, noting the slugger’s heavier workload at shortstop after the team traded veteran Elly De La Cruz’s competitor Noelvi Marte. Adjustments paying dividends Pitchers tried to exploit the youngster with high fastballs in 2024, but De La Cruz spent the offseason shortening his swing path. The result: a 5-percentage-point drop in strikeout rate and a jump in hard-hit percentage to 55%, sixth-best in MLB. “He can beat you with a bunt or 440-foot opposite-field power—that dual threat changes how we game-plan,” Marlins ace Eury Pérez said. Next up: record books If he maintains his pace, De La Cruz would join Eric Davis (1987) as the only Reds to notch 30 homers and 50 steals in the same season. The club record for runs scored (140, set by Frank Robinson in 1962) is also within striking distance. Even Statcast can’t fully quantify the buzz: a sell-out crowd is expected at Great American Ball Park this weekend as Cincinnati hosts division-leading Milwaukee. Bottom line From nightly sprint-speed showcases to milestone-chasing power displays, Elly De La Cruz is delivering must-see baseball—and he’s only 23. With an All-Star Game cameo looming and pennant-race pressure mounting, the spotlight on Cincinnati’s electric shortstop is about to get even brighter.