Reacting to Elly De La Cruz’s Struggles in Cincinnati Reds’ Loss to Philadelphia Phillies
Tuesday against the Phillies, the 22-year-old committed three mistakes.
Elly De La Cruz, a young player for the Reds, is starting the season off well at the plate. Cincinnati’s opening five games have seen a hit from the 22-year-old, including two extra base hits. In addition, he has two steals and four runs scored.
Since this is De La Cruz’s first full season of big league ball, there will undoubtedly be growing pains. That encompasses premature strikeouts. He might cast his net for a breaking ball that’s best left untracked. All of those things are anticipated.
A careless effort at shortstop is something we cannot and should not tolerate.
Against the Phillies on Tuesday at the opening of spring training, De La Cruz appeared to be engaged in a ground ball drill.
Three errors were assessed against him, two of which were effort plays. He fielded a ball in the first after it bounced twice up the middle. He approached the situation casually, and the throw to first was not made in time. The Reds lost a run as a result. His poor decision to try to flip the ball straight from his glove to Jonathan India on a double play ball was his second mistake. It was a part of the seven-run inning that put an end to the Reds’ hopes of pulling off a comeback. In the eighth inning, when the game was all but done, he also misfielded a ball.
“Perhaps the pair of plays attempted to be too rapid,” Reds manager David Bell stated. The most important thing is to not be hesitant. He needs to maintain his aggression and keep trying to make plays. That’s what Elly will hear.”
Do not panic at this moment. De La Cruz is gifted. If he is to play to his full capacity in the field as well as at the plate, he must maintain his discipline and attention. Hopefully, he takes Tuesday night’s lesson to heart and improves as a player.
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