Elly De La Cruz in action against the Chicago Cubs (image credit: getty)
Cincinnati RedsĀ shortstop Elly De La Cruz had a strong 2024 season. Regarded as one of the brightest talents in the baseball world, De La Cruz finished the campaign batting .259 with 25 home runs and 76 RBIs. His blistering turn of pace allowed him to lead the NL with 67 stolen bases.
Although De La Cruz undoubtedly possesses heaps of talent, he makes sure to work hard as well so he stays in top shape to perform well on the diamond. On Tuesday, he took to Instagram to give fans a sneak peek of his offseason training regimen, posting a video of a massive home run he hit during batting practice.
“We are still activeš„” De La Cruz captioned.
Screenshots of Elly De La Cruz’s Instagram Stories (Images from – Instagram.com/@la_cocoa_____18 IG Stories)
After signing with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent in 2018, De La Cruz made his big league debut in June 2023. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, establishing himself as a regular in Reds skipper Terry Francona’s lineup. Owing to his solid performances, he earned his first ever All-Star cap in the 2024 season.
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Elly De La Cruz’s scorching speed helps him make MLB history
In only his second season at the top level of baseball, Elly De La Cruz made major league history. In an Instagram post by the Cincinnati Reds on Nov. 25, the team announced that he became the first ever player in big league history to record 10 or more triples, 25 or more home runs, 30 or more doubles and 60 or more stolen bases in the same season.
For now, De La Cruz will use the offseason to further improve his game, as he has already been doing so far. With spring training typically beginning in early February, Reds fans will be hoping their talented shortstop can return in top shape and have the kind of first half of the season that earned him a place in the 2024 All-Star game.
Having finished fourth in the NL Central and missed out on a playoff spot, De La Cruz and his teammates will aim to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.