Cincinnati Reds Elly De La Cruz Leads the Team in This Stat After Just One Game

Cincinnati Reds top prospect Elly De La Cruz made his major league debut on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and after just one game, already leads the team in this statistic.

After just one game, Cincinnati Reds uber-prospect Elly De La Cruz is already at the top of the charts.

Playing in just his first major league game on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the rangy infielder recorded a hit at 112 mph.

Sarah Langs of MLB.com has the significance of that on Twitter:

Elly De La Cruz’s first base hit, a double: 112.0 mph exit velocity, the Reds’ hardest-hit batted ball of 2023 

sprint speed: 30.4 ft/sec (30+ is elite)

Elly De La Cruz’s first base hit, a double:

112.0 mph exit velocity, the Reds’ hardest-hit batted ball of 2023

sprint speed: 30.4 ft/sec (30+ is elite) https://t.co/OTbyYPJpwE

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 7, 2023

To already have the hardest hit ball of the season in your first game? That shows you the kinds of tools that De La Cruz has. One of the "toolsiest" prospects in baseball, he is known for his powerful exit velocities, powerful throwing arm, and that elite speed.

He is the No. 4 overall prospect in baseball and the Reds top prospect.

He is one of several young players that the Reds have brought up this year including Matt McLain, Brandon Williamson and Spencer Steer.

For more on De La Cruz, here's a portion of his prospect profile: 

There are few prospects more dynamic than De La Cruz, both in terms of his five-tool potential and the joy and passion he brings to his game. The switch-hitter’s plus bat speed has been amplified as he’s added strength, and he has legitimate plus power, especially from the left side of the plate. He can still be over-aggressive at times, striking out in more than 30 percent of his plate appearances in 2022, but he showed improved patience while more than holding his own in the Dominican Winter League against much older competition.

Because of his size, he’s drawn some comparisons to the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz, and like Cruz, De La Cruz is eager to show he can stick at shortstop. He has the actions and plus arm to stay there for sure while also having no problems playing third and saw time at second with Licey this past winter. Just 21 for the 2023 season, he’s the kind of player who should have no ceiling placed on him, with the chance to be a true five-tool All-Star sooner rather than later.

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