Elly De La Cruz Bio
Elly Antonio De La Cruz, born on January 11, 2002, in Sabana Grande de Boyá, Dominican Republic, is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). Known for his rare combination of size, speed, and power, he has quickly become one of the most exciting young players in the sport. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, he is among the tallest shortstops in MLB history and routinely ranks among the league’s fastest players.
De La Cruz signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent in 2018 and made his MLB debut on June 6, 2023. He earned selections to the MLB All-Star Game in both 2024 and 2025. In 2024, he led the National League in stolen bases, joined the 20-50 club, and finished eighth in NL MVP voting.
Early Life and Background
Elly Antonio De La Cruz grew up in Sabana Grande de Boyá, a town in the Dominican Republic known for producing baseball talent. He was raised in a large family and has eight older siblings who helped shape his early years. Like many Dominican children, he was introduced to baseball at a young age and spent much of his childhood playing the game in his hometown.
His tall frame and natural athleticism set him apart from other kids his age, and he quickly developed a reputation as a gifted all-around athlete. Baseball became his primary focus as a teenager, and his combination of raw tools drew the attention of professional scouts. Growing up in a baseball-rich culture gave him a strong foundation and a deep understanding of the game before he ever signed a professional contract.
Path to Baseball
De La Cruz’s journey to professional baseball began on July 2, 2018, when he signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent at 16 years old. He received a $65,000 signing bonus and was assigned to the Dominican Summer League Reds, where he made his professional debut in 2019. That year, he hit .285 with one home run and three steals in 43 games while playing primarily shortstop.
He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he split time between the Arizona Complex League Reds and the Single-A Daytona Tortugas, batting a combined .296 with eight home runs and 10 stolen bases in 61 games. Baseball America named him the best player in the Arizona Complex League and the best athlete in the Reds’ organization. His rapid rise through the minors continued in 2022 with the High-A Dayton Dragons and Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, where he posted a .304 average with 28 home runs and 47 stolen bases. That performance earned him Midwest League Prospect of the Year honors and a spot on the 40-man roster in November 2022.
Elly De La Cruz Career
Early Career (2018-2022)
De La Cruz began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, where he showed flashes of the five-tool potential that would later define his big-league profile. Despite a slow start to his career statistically, his raw tools were evident to scouts and coaches. The canceled 2020 season slowed his development, but he returned strong in 2021, earning recognition from Baseball America as one of the top prospects in the Reds’ system.
His breakout came in 2022, when he became the first minor league player since George Springer in 2013 to bat .300 with at least 25 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He was named Reds Minor League Player of the Year and earned an invitation to the All-Star Futures Game. That November, the Reds added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, signaling that his MLB debut was approaching.
MLB Debut and Rookie Season (2023)
Elly Antonio De La Cruz was promoted to the majors on June 6, 2023, following an injury to Nick Senzel. At 21 years old, he was the fifth-youngest player in the National League. The next day, he hit his first major league home run, a 458-foot shot against the Los Angeles Dodgers. On June 23, he hit for the cycle, becoming the first Reds player to do so since Eric Davis in 1989 and the youngest player in MLB to accomplish the feat since César Cedeño in 1972.
He continued to make history throughout the summer, stealing second, third, and home in the same inning on July 8, the first Reds player to do so since Greasy Neale in 1919. He also set a Statcast record for the fastest infield assist, throwing at 97.9 miles per hour. In his rookie season, he hit 13 home runs, seven triples, and stole 35 bases in 98 games, finishing with a .235 batting average.
Sophomore Season and All-Star Recognition (2024)
De La Cruz’s second MLB season was a major leap forward. On May 16, 2024, he became the first MLB player since Ichiro Suzuki in 2012 to record four hits and four stolen bases in one game. By July 8, he had set a new Reds record for most stolen bases before the All-Star break, surpassing Billy Hamilton’s mark of 44. He was named a reserve for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, his first career selection.
On August 21, he stole his 60th base, becoming the fifth player since 1900 and the first shortstop in major league history to hit at least 20 home runs and steal 60 bases in a season. He finished the year with 25 home runs and 67 stolen bases, while posting a strong slash line across 160 games. He led the National League in stolen bases and finished eighth in NL MVP voting.
2025 Season and Cover Athlete Honor
On January 28, 2025, De La Cruz was announced as one of three cover athletes for MLB The Show 25, becoming the first Reds player ever featured on the video game’s cover. He opened the season strong, hitting .285 with an .852 OPS through the end of July. On May 11, he became the first player in major league history with 115 extra base hits and 115 stolen bases through his first 300 games since 1900. He later hit four straight home runs between June 11-15, joining Eric Davis, Johnny Bench, and Frank Robinson as the only Reds aged 23 or younger to accomplish the feat.
After the All-Star break, De La Cruz struggled at the plate, batting .221 in August and September. Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall later revealed that De La Cruz had played through a strained left quad, which may have affected his performance. Despite the late-season dip, the Reds confirmed plans to keep him at shortstop going forward.
Driving Style and Strengths
Elly De La Cruz is widely regarded as one of the most physically gifted players in baseball. He combines elite sprint speed, ranked at the top of MLB each season, with tremendous raw power and a strong throwing arm. Teammate Joey Votto once described him as the best runner he had ever seen, with the most power and the strongest arm. His ability to impact the game on the base paths, in the field, and at the plate makes him a true five-tool player.
Notable Events and Milestones
De La Cruz has already authored several signature moments in his young career. He hit for the cycle in June 2023, stole three bases in one inning later that month, and set a Statcast infield assist record. In 2024, he joined an exclusive list of players in the 20-50 club and set a Reds record for stolen bases before the All-Star break. He also became the first Reds player ever featured on the cover of MLB The Show in 2025.
Elly De La Cruz Career Wins
Elly Antonio De La Cruz has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments in his short MLB career, highlighted by two All-Star selections, a National League stolen base title, and membership in the historic 20-50 club. He has also earned numerous minor league awards, including Midwest League Prospect of the Year and Reds Minor League Player of the Year.
MLB Highlights
In his first two full MLB seasons, De La Cruz earned All-Star selections in 2024 and 2025. He led the National League in stolen bases in 2024 with 67 and joined the 20-50 club that same year. He also set a Reds franchise record for most stolen bases before the All-Star break, surpassing Billy Hamilton’s previous mark of 44.
Other Awards and Performances
Before reaching the majors, De La Cruz was a MiLB Organization All-Star, a Midwest League Postseason All-Star, and the Reds’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2022. He was also the first minor league player since George Springer in 2013 to post a .300 average with 25 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season.
Elly De La Cruz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Elly Antonio De La Cruz comes from a large Dominican family and has eight older siblings. His family supported his early baseball development in Sabana Grande de Boyá, a community known for its passion for the sport. His older sister, Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez, passed away in 2025, and De La Cruz honored her with a touching home run tribute against the Chicago Cubs on June 1, 2025.
Personal Life
De La Cruz is a private person off the field and focuses much of his public life on baseball. He has spoken about the close bond he shares with his family in the Dominican Republic, and his sister’s passing in mid-2025 was a deeply emotional moment that he acknowledged publicly during a game. He continues to reside primarily in the United States during the MLB season.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Elly Antonio De La Cruz’s third year in the majors and his second consecutive All-Star appearance. He started the year strong, hitting .285 with an .852 OPS through the end of July and earning recognition as a cover athlete for MLB The Show 25. He reached several statistical milestones early in the season, including becoming the fastest player in modern history to record 300 hits, 150 RBI, and 100 stolen bases.
However, the second half of the season proved more difficult. De La Cruz batted just .221 in August and September, and his slugging percentage dropped to its lowest mark of his career. After the season, the Reds revealed that he had been playing through a strained left quad, which likely contributed to his offensive struggles and increased defensive errors. Despite the late-season slump, the Reds have expressed full confidence in his future and plan to keep him at shortstop.
Looking ahead, De La Cruz remains a cornerstone of the Reds’ rebuilding effort and one of the most marketable young stars in baseball. With his combination of speed, power, and defensive ability, he is expected to remain a central figure in Cincinnati’s lineup for years to come. His continued development will be a key storyline for the Reds as they aim to return to postseason contention.