Elly De La Cruz didn’t just arrive in Major League Baseball—he crashed the party. Since his debut with the Cincinnati Reds on June 6, 2023, the 6-foot-5 shortstop has been a lightning bolt in cleats, turning heads and igniting a young Reds squad that’s got its eyes on something big. We’re talking speed, power, and a flair that’s hard to ignore. Shohei Ohtani’s still a unicorn out there in LA, doing things no one’s ever seen, but the buzz around him as the face of MLB? It’s starting to flicker. And right on cue, here comes De La Cruz, ready to swipe that crown in 2025.
Let’s rewind to that rookie splash. Day one in the bigs, De La Cruz steps up. Day two, he’s launching a 458-foot homer like it’s nothing. The Reds caught fire after his call-up, ripping off an 18-5 stretch in June that had Great American Ball Park rocking. Oh, and he didn’t stop there—hitting for the cycle later that month, the first Red to do it since Eric Davis in ’89. His stat line that year—.235/.300/.410 with 13 homers—didn’t scream MVP, but it screamed potential. The kid was raw, sure, whiffing too much with 33.7% strikeouts, but you could see the pieces clicking. This wasn’t just another prospect. This was a guy who could change the game.
Fast forward to 2024, and De La Cruz leveled up. His slash line jumped to .259/.339/.471, and those 13 dingers turned into 25. The power was real—he cranked 71 extra-base hits, tops in the NL—and he swiped 67 bags, leading the league. That’s not just speed; that’s chaos on the basepaths, the kind of electricity that makes pitchers sweat and fans lose their minds. He’s still got some swing-and-miss in him—27.4% strikeout rate—but here’s the kicker: his chase rate dropped from 32.4% to 28.2%. He’s seeing the ball better, laying off junk, and when he connects? Good luck. The guy’s exit velocities are climbing, and at 23 years old, he’s nowhere near his ceiling.
So why’s he in the conversation to take over from Ohtani? It’s not just the stats—it’s the vibe. De La Cruz plays like he’s got a spotlight rigged to follow him. The bat flips, the swagger, the way he turns a routine single into a triple with those long strides—he’s got that it factor. Ohtani’s a marvel, no doubt, hitting .310 with 54 homers and 130 RBIs in ’24 while throwing 15 starts before his elbow shut him down again. But the two-way thing, as insane as it is, feels less novel now. He’s 30, locked into DH mode for a bit, and the Dodgers’ megastar aura can only carry so far. De La Cruz, meanwhile, is young, hungry, and on a Reds team that’s got new blood in the dugout with Terry Francona taking the reins. Cincinnati’s not a small market sleeper anymore—they’re coming.
Here’s the X-factor: De La Cruz impacts the game in ways that don’t just show up in the box score. He’s got 80-grade speed—legitimately the fastest dude in baseball—and an arm that’s a cannon from shortstop. Defensively, he’s smoothing out the rough edges (12 errors in ’24, down from 24 in ’23), and offensively, he’s a one-man rally. Imagine this: bases loaded, two outs, De La Cruz steps in. Pitcher’s sweating, crowd’s buzzing, and then—crack—a double off the wall, three runs in, and he’s grinning at second like he knew it all along. That’s the kind of spark that wins fans over, not just in Cincy but everywhere.
For 2025, the next leap’s clear: keep cutting those strikeouts. If he gets that K-rate closer to 20%, paired with his power (think 30+ homers) and speed (80 steals isn’t crazy), you’re looking at an MVP-caliber season. The Reds, with Francona’s savvy and a core of Jonathan India, Matt McLain, and Spencer Steer, could push for the NL Central crown or a wild card. Success breeds spotlight, and De La Cruz thrives in it. Ohtani’s still got the global pull—Japan’s obsessed, and his $700 million deal keeps him loud—but De La Cruz’s rise feels organic, homegrown, and downright fun.
Picture Opening Day 2025: De La Cruz laces a leadoff triple, dust flying, crowd roaring, and MLB’s social feeds light up. That’s not a prediction—it’s a preview. Ohtani’s greatness isn’t fading, but the torch? It’s starting to shift. Elly De La Cruz isn’t just a breakout star—he’s the guy who could make baseball his show.
