Elly De La Cruz has the opportunity to elevate his game to another level in the upcoming MLB season.
Elly De La Cruz did not finish the 2025 season on a high note. The Cincinnati Reds’ electrifying shortstop attempted to play through a left quad injury in the second half, and the lingering issue severely limited his production.
Even so, the 23-year-old remains one of the most dynamic talents in baseball, and the path to a National League MVP award in 2026 is very much within reach.
The first step is consistency. De La Cruz’s first-half numbers last season were elite. Through 97 games, he owned a .284 batting average, a .359 on-base percentage and an .854 OPS with 18 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Replicating that level of production across a full season would immediately place him among the league’s top performers. If he can take another stride forward in plate discipline and power, the superstar label will be undeniable.
De La Cruz has a chance to rewrite the record books. He led MLB in stolen bases in 2024 with 67, and even while injured in 2025 he swiped 37 bags. If healthy, he has the speed to push toward unprecedented territory.
A 40-home run, 70-steal season would make him only the second player in MLB history to achieve the feat, joining Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who won NL MVP in 2023 with that exact combination. Such a milestone would all but guarantee MVP consideration.
Team success will matter as well. While the MVP is technically an individual award, voters often factor in whether a player’s performance translates to wins.
For De La Cruz, that means the Reds must contend for the NL Central crown. If Cincinnati returns to the postseason with him as the centerpiece, his case strengthens considerably.
Defense is another area where growth could elevate his candidacy. In 2025, De La Cruz posted a fielding run value of 0 while playing through injury.
Compare that to 2024, when he recorded a +9 fielding run value while fully healthy, and the difference is clear. A return to plus defensive metrics would round out his profile as a true all-around player.
Of course, the challenge is steep. Shohei Ohtani, the two-way sensation, enters 2026 as the MVP favorite. But De La Cruz has the tools to make it a legitimate race.
If he stays healthy, maintains his first-half production, pushes the Reds into contention and flashes elite defense, the path to MVP is a possibility. For Cincinnati, the hope is that their franchise superstar can deliver on his immense potential and etch his name into the history books.