Cincinnati Reds sensation Elly De La Cruz continues to captivate fans, opponents, and even some of the most seasoned baseball minds. The latest to offer high praise for the 23-year-old star? Reds legend and Hall of Famer Barry Larkin.
Larkin, who spent his entire 19-year MLB career with Cincinnati before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, recently lauded De La Cruz’s instincts and baseball intelligence.
“His baseball IQ is off the absolute charts! It’s amazing how he sees and anticipates the game… he sees things before they happen,” Larkin said via *MLB Network* on X (formerly Twitter).
That exceptional anticipation was on full display during a recent spring training game against the Colorado Rockies when De La Cruz executed a stunning baserunning sequence—one that even left Reds manager Terry Francona in disbelief.
Elly De La Cruz left Reds manager Terry Francona in shock
In the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game, Elly De La Cruz once again showcased his elite speed and instincts. After beating out an infield single, he advanced to second when a pitch hit Austin Hays. With runners on first and second and no outs, De La Cruz made magic happen.
As Rockies catcher Drew Romo attempted to throw out Hays on a double steal, De La Cruz took off for third. But he didn’t stop there—seeing an opportunity, he raced home, scoring from second base without the ball ever leaving the infield. Even Reds manager Terry Francona, with four decades in baseball, was left stunned.
“They say you may see something in a game you’ve never seen before. I’ve never seen that,” Francona told *The Enquirer (Cincinnati)*. “When he left third, I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no. Good play.’ That’s as athletic and instinctual as you’re ever gonna see. My goodness sakes. That was incredible.”
Initially, the play was scored as one stolen base with De La Cruz advancing home on the throw. However, after review, the official scorer credited him with two stolen bases—a testament to his aggressive baserunning and awareness. While his blazing speed grabs headlines, Francona emphasized that De La Cruz’s instincts are just as impressive.
“Everybody sees the physical stuff, but if he doesn’t keep his head up and know where the ball is, that doesn’t happen,” Francona added.
De La Cruz led MLB in stolen bases in 2024 with 67, but his impact goes far beyond just speed. He became the first shortstop in MLB history to record at least 25 home runs and 65 stolen bases in a single season. Additionally, he reached 100 stolen bases and 100 extra-base hits faster than any player in MLB history, accomplishing the feat in just 251 games—breaking Juan Samuel’s previous record by two games.
He also joined elite company as just the third player in the modern era (since 1900) to notch 100 stolen bases within his first two seasons, joining Vince Coleman (217 SB, 1985-86) and Rickey Henderson (133 SB, 1979-80).
With his rare blend of speed, power, and intelligence, De La Cruz is redefining what it means to be a five-tool player. As Barry Larkin, Francona, and the rest of the baseball world take notice, one thing is clear—this is just the beginning for Cincinnati’s electrifying young star.
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