Elly De La Cruz #44

Signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic for $65,000 on July 2, 2018... entered the 2023 season rated by MLB.com and Baseball America the best prospect in the Reds organization... MLB.com ranked him the No. 10 overall prospect in baseball entering 2023 while Baseball America had him at No. 8 in its Top 100 Prospects list... is rated by Baseball America the organization's best power hitter, fastest baserunner, best athlete and infielder with the best arm entering 2023... when added to the 40-man roster on 11/15/22 was rated by MLB.com the best prospect in the organization and 14th-best prospect in baseball...In 2022 received the Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award as the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year, was Baseball America's Reds Minor League Player of the Year and was Minor League Baseball's Top Prospect in the Midwest League...In 2022 was the organization's Player of the Month for June and August and the Southern League's Player of the Month for August...In 2022 was a Midwest League All-Star and MWL Batter of the Week for 7/4- 7/10, 2022...twice that week, on 7/9 and again on 7/11, both vs West Michigan, homered from each side of the plate in the same game... Participated in Major League Baseball's 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium...In Baseball America's 2022 season-ending tools issue was rated by field managers the Midwest League's most exciting player, best batting prospect, best power prospect and fastest base runner...In 2021 was recognized by Baseball America as the best player in the Arizona Complex League, the fourth-best player & sixth-best prospect in the Low-A Southeast League and the best athlete & fastest baserunner in the Reds' organization... in 2023 participated in his first Major League spring training camp.

2023

Attended his first Major League Spring Training with the Reds

2022

Received the Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award as the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year, was Baseball America's Reds Minor League Player of the Year and was Minor League Baseball's Top Prospect in the Midwest League...Was a Midwest League All-Star and MWL Batter of the Week for 7/4-7/10 (.421, 5hr, 3sb)...twice that week, on 7/9 and again on 7/11, both vs West Michigan, homered from each side of the plate in the same game...Was the organization's Player of the Month for June (25g, .313, 3 2b, 3 3b, 7hr, 20rbi, 11sb, .979ops) and August (24g, .355/.425/.688, 13 2b, 6hr, 25rbi, 6sb, 1.113ops)...Was the Southern League Player of the Month for August after leading the league doubles, RBI and total bases while ranking second in hitting, hits, slugging percentage and OPS...reached base safely in 22 of his 24 apps in August...Participated in Major League Baseball's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium...In 120 apps at Class A Dayton and Class AA Chattanooga hit .304 with 28 HR, 47 stolen bases and a .945 OPS...became the first minor league player since George Springer in 2013 to hit .300 with at least 25 HR and 40 stolen bases...When promoted on 7/22, was leading the Midwest League in slugging percentage, was tied for the league lead in HR and ranked among the Top 5 in OPS, hitting, hits, runs, extra-base hits, RBI and stolen bases...As one of the Midwest League's youngest players and in only 73 apps at Dayton, became the first Dragons player ever to hit at least .300 (.302) with 20 HR (20) & 20 stolen bases (28), became the third Dragons player to produce 20 HR & 20 SB in a season (Wily Mo Pena in 2001, Jose Siri in 2017) and is the third Dragons player with at least 20 HR while hitting .300 (Austin Kearns in 2000, Donald Lutz in 2011)...Led all Reds minor leaguers in hitting, hits, doubles, triples, HR, extra-base hits, total bases, RBI, runs, slugging percentage and OPS...In Baseball America's season-ending tools issue was rated by field managers the Midwest League's most exciting player, best batting prospect, best power prospect and fastest base runner...Entered the season rated by Baseball America the fourth-best prospect in the organization...Following the season played for Licey in the Dominican Winter League (24g, .286, 4 2b, 2 3b, 1hr, 14rbi, 9sb, .813ops), where on 10/20 he was named Position Player of the Week...Was added to the 40-man roster at the 11/15 restricted list deadline, along with RHP Ricky Karcher, IF Noelvi Marte, RHP Lyon Richardson, RHP Levi Stoudt and RHP Brandon Williamson.

2021

Played 3B (35g) and SS (23g) for Rookie ACL Reds and Class A Daytona...Was recognized by Baseball America as the best player in the Arizona Complex League, the fourth-best player & sixth-best prospect in the Low-A Southeast League and the best athlete & fastest baserunner in the Reds' organization...Among all Reds farmhands ranked second with nine triples and T4th with 35 extra-base hits...led the Arizona Complex League with a 1.235 OPS...During the season was rated by MLB.com (8th) and Baseball America (10th) among the Reds' top prospects

2020

Did not play after the MiLB season was canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic

2019

Made his Reds debut in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .285 in 43 games