It’s hard to think about a more exciting player in MLB than Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
He is shaping up to be this year’s Ronald Acuna Jr.: a player with immense power and the ability to steal bases in bunches.
In fact, if he keeps up his current pace, he will reach new heights and could even top Acuna’s 41-homer, 73-steal season last year.
“Elly De La Cruz is on pace for a historic season,” the league tweeted, detailing his power-speed pace in a graphic.
Elly De La Cruz is on pace for a historic season. 👀 pic.twitter.com/3b4aAlP1Yf
De La Cruz is currently on pace to go yard 42 times this year, and steal a whopping 94 bases.
Such a high pace is incredibly difficult to maintain, but if there is a player physically capable and skilled enough to take a shot at it, it’s De La Cruz.
He is healthy, hungry, and prepared to face MLB pitching.
It took a while (he had a rather disappointing .710 OPS last season despite 13 home runs and 35 steals), but De La Cruz has matured as a hitter.
Not only does he have eight home runs and 18 thefts already in 2024, but he has a .968 OPS.
That’s where you see how much he has grown: he has always had power and speed, but consistently inflicting damage at the plate and on the basepaths was still a work in progress.
That’s not the case anymore: we are witnessing the breakout of a star, one that will come with plenty of dingers and stolen bases.
Fans just have to sit back and enjoy.