Cincinnati Reds Demote Player After Elly De La Cruz's Activation

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz has not played a single game in the month of June. The 24-year-old superstar strained his right hamstring while running to first base, and in the 19 games he has missed, the Reds have gone just 7-12. Cincinnati now owns a 37-40 record, and after a strong start to the season, they sit in last place in the National League Central.

If they have any chance of turning their season around, they are going to need De La Cruz, one of the best all-around players in the league. Before going down, he posted a .280 batting average, .346 on-base percentage, .855 OPS, 12 home runs and 37 RBIs across 58 games. He also stole 10 bases and played solid defense up the middle.

Fortunately, Cincinnati is getting him back for Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, as he has completed his minor league rehab assignment and has been activated. However, the Reds needed to clear an active roster spot for De La Cruz to return, and in turn had to demote a player. That player ended up being outfielder Will Benson.

"The Reds today activated IF Elly De La Cruz from the 10-day injured list and optioned OF Will Benson to Triple-A Louisville," the Reds wrote on X.

While this is a disappointing result for Benson, he simply was not cutting it at the big-league level. The 28-year-old has posted a .188 batting average, .310 on-base percentage and .643 OPS, now in his fourth season in Cincinnati.

Benson has not been a productive hitter for the Reds since 2023, when he posted an OPS near .900 and looked like a completely different hitter. That version of him has not returned, and with years to turn it around and no progress to show for it, this demotion may signal the beginning of the end for him in Cincinnati.

Still, Benson will now have a chance to once again reinvent himself in Triple-A. The Reds also have plenty of outfield depth, especially with the emergence of JJ Bleday this year, making Benson expendable. 

For Cincinnati, getting De La Cruz back is the priority. With the All-Star break approaching, a playoff berth remains a possibility if the Reds start stacking wins. Having their best player back in the lineup gives this team a chance. De La Cruz will look to pick up right where he left off.