Elly De La Cruz has etched his name into Cincinnati Reds franchise history.
The Cincinnati Reds continue to ride the momentum of a strong April, and this week in Tampa Bay, their franchise superstar added another achievement to his rapidly growing resume.
Shortstop Elly De La Cruz has been at the center of everything Cincinnati has done well this season, and his performance against the Rays earlier this past Tuesday only strengthened that narrative.
The 24-year-old switch-hitting shortstop delivered one of his best games of the year, powering the Reds to another win while adding his name to a notable chapter of team history.
The Reds announced on Thursday that Elly De La Cruz’s 68th home run on Tuesday moved him into second place on the franchise’s all-time home run list for switch hitters, passing Dmitri Young’s 67. He now trails only Pete Rose, who hit 152.
De La Cruz reached the milestone in emphatic fashion. He homered twice in the game, going 3-for-6 with five RBIs and a stolen base in a dominant all-around performance. It was the type of game that showcased everything he brings to the field.
More importantly for Cincinnati, De La Cruz looks fully healthy again. After battling a left quad injury in the second half of 2025 and struggling to produce, he has returned in 2026 looking like a legitimate National League MVP candidate. His switch-hitting explosiveness has resurfaced, and his confidence at the plate has matched the production.
Now in his fourth MLB season, De La Cruz has already become the face of the franchise. He is a two-time All-Star and has received MVP votes in each of the past two seasons, and at just 24 years old, he has more than enough time to chase down Rose’s record. At his current pace, it feels less like a question of if and more like when.
His impact has been essential for a Reds team sitting at 16-9 and tied for first place in the NL Central with the Chicago Cubs. Without De La Cruz, and without the emergence of rookie Sal Stewart, Cincinnati’s offense would look underwhelming. Instead, the duo has elevated the lineup’s floor and kept the Reds among the league’s most dangerous teams.
Through 25 games, De La Cruz is hitting .265 with a .330 on-base percentage, an .879 OPS, eight home runs, 18 RBIs and six stolen bases. And with milestones already falling in April, it is clear De La Cruz is only getting started.