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Cincinnati Reds shortstop prospect Elly De La Cruz is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and he has been on fire in Triple-A. De La Cruz slashed .347/.460/.743 in May with 10 home runs, 28 RBI, and nine stolen bases.
During his time in Triple-A, the 21-year-old has made a habit of crushing balls and sending them a long way. In his most recent game, De La Cruz claimed the victory with a walk-off two-run home run for the Louisville Bats. His homer was clocked at 109.2 mph off the bat and measured a distance of 432 feet.
It surprised some that Matt McLain got promoted first, but De La Cruz may get his chance soon, and he has the potential to be a real game-changer down the stretch in fantasy.
Can Elly De La Cruz Get Promoted To The Bigs?
The Reds have an embarrassment of riches in their farm system. They have a handful of capable players waiting for their chance with seemingly no place to put them, but De La Cruz's play in Triple-A has been so spectacular that fans are begging for him to be called up.
One of the most impressive things about the 21-year-old shortstop is his ability to make hard contact. De La Cruz has hit balls over 115 mph several times this season, including three times in a single game. A lot of power is packed into his 6'5", 200-pound frame, and it's not limited to his swing. De La Cruz also has a massive arm, registering infield throws touching 99 mph this season.
One of the main things holding De La Cruz back was his plate discipline. Before this season, the top prospect regularly struck out over 30% of the time and walked in less than 8% of his plate appearances. Big power hits tend to have holes in their swings, and the Reds wanted him to work on that aspect of his game.
In 2023, De La Cruz is still striking out around 26% of the time, but he has nearly doubled his walk rate to 13.8%. De La Cruz's combination of contact, power, and speed make him one of the most dynamic prospects in baseball, but the implications involved with his promotion are essential to discuss.
With the recent promotion of Matt McLain and the emergence of Spencer Steer at third base, the starting infield may get a bit crowded. De La Cruz is an excellent shortstop and would likely take over the position for the Reds, moving McLain over to second base and leaving Jonathan India in question. It has been speculated that India could move to one of the outfield positions and slot in as a DH, but again, this is just speculation.
Elly De La Cruz is one of the top prospects in baseball and will likely be promoted within the coming weeks. How the Reds will manage the infield remains to be seen, but De La Cruz is one of the best players you can possibly stash in fantasy and will likely make a sizable impact once he is called up.
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