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Cincinnati, OH — In just his first MLB series, Elly De La Cruz, the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospect and #4 overall prospect (according to MLB Pipeline), has made the headlines and sparked attention from fans across the nation. The Reds’ switch hitter has gotten off to a hot start in the Majors with a .364/.462/.909 slash line with 1 home run (HR), 1 stolen base (SB), and 2 runs batted in (RBIs). So how did this future MLB superstar become such a freak of nature?

Elly De La Cruz signed with the Cincinnati Reds on July 2, 2018, as an international free agent for a reported $65,000 from the Dominican Republic. De La Cruz started off his professional career with the Dominican Summer League Reds in 2019. De La Cruz did not play baseball the following season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. De La Cruz started turning heads in Double-A in 2022 where he racked up 28 HRs and stole 47 bases in 121 games played. De La Cruz started the 2023 season in Triple-A with the Louisville Bats before being called up for his Major League debut on June 6, 2023.

In his first Major League game, De La Cruz ripped a double into right-center field with a tracked exit velocity of 112 MPH for his first Major League hit. To put that number into context, the average exit velocity is around 88 MPH. De La Cruz also earned 2 walks on the night.

De La Cruz became even more popular after his second Major League game, where he crushed his first career home run. De La Cruz smacked a 458 ft. HR with an exit velocity of 114.8 MPH off opposing Dodgers’ pitcher, Noah Syndergaard. To cap off a huge night at the plate, De La Cruz hit a triple into the gap, where he showed off his electrifying speed.

After the game, De La Cruz secured his first career home run from the fan who caught it on the receiving end. Alex French, a high school student from Archbishop Moeller High School in Ohio, was the lucky fan who caught De La Cruz’s first home run and said, “I just want to do the right thing. I want him to have it.” In exchange for the baseball, Alex French and his friends got to meet Elly De La Cruz and take a photo with him.

In the final game of his Major League debut series against the Dodgers, De La Cruz recorded a single and his first career stolen base. While De La Cruz struck out 3 times, he also showcased his switch-hitting ability and speed as he flew around the bases. 

Throughout his first Major League series against the Dodgers, the 21-year-old, switch-hitting 3rd baseman has displayed his true potential as a future superstar, showcasing his raw power and electric speed. De La Cruz has recorded the two hardest-hit balls of the year for the Reds, the longest home run for the Reds, and the fastest triple in the MLB this season. With a bright future ahead of him, De La Cruz has already impressed many Reds fans, creating a frenzy to purchase his jersey.

Matthew Suh is a staff writer and contributor for The Bell Online, Fresh Coast Sports, and The Press Box. He is passionate about the intersection of sports and culture and loves to explore the stories behind the games. Follow Matthew on Twitter @matthewsuh.