Cincinnati Reds Star Elly De La Cruz Is On A Historic Pace To Begin The 2026 Season

Shohei Ohtani is the only player to do this.

Apr 10, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) gestures after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI – Reds star Elly De La Cruz hit two home runs and stole two bases over the weekend in the series versus the Los Angeles Angels. He is on pace to do something only Shohei Ohtani has done in Major League Baseball history, joining the 50/50 club.

Running Elly is Back?

Apr 11, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) takes his lead from second base against the Los Angeles Angels at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

In 2024, Elly De La Cruz led baseball with 67 stolen bases. Last season, even before the injury slowed him down, he was still running less frequently and ended the season with 37 stolen bases. As of Sunday, April 12, De La Cruz currently has five stolen bases in 16 games. That puts him on pace to steal 51 bases this season. While still not the number he put up in 2024, he has only been caught stealing just once to this point. In 2024, he was caught 16 times. If he can be more effective, the lower stolen base total can be just as impactful if he is caught less frequently. FanGraphs had him projected to steal 38 bases this season.

What makes the stolen base total impressive is the amount of power he has shown to begin the season. He has five home runs in the first 16 games. He is currently on pace to hit 51 home runs this season. His current career high is 25 in the 2024 season. Last season, he showed promise with his power, hitting 18 home runs in the first half of the season. He had just four to finish out the season after dealing with a quad injury in July.

Right Handed Power

Apr 12, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz, right, gestures with third base coach Willie Harris (99), after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

One of the most impressive notes on Elly De La Cruz's season so far, if those projections aren't already, is his hitting ability right-handed this season. He is currently a better hitter statistically versus left-handed pitching. 

In 22 at-bats versus left-handers this season, De La Cruz is slashing .318/.348/.909 with four home runs and a double. He isn't exactly struggling against right-handed pitching either. He is batting .262 with a .748 OPS with a home run and two doubles. 

De La Cruz’s current home run total from the right side was 13 to begin the season. With his four this season, he is on pace to surpass that total significantly.

Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart are willing the Reds to win. The rest of the offense is just flat out bad to begin the season. There is no doubt that the 24-year-old is in the running to be an All-Star starter this season. If the rest of the offense can get it going, he may be a serious candidate to win the league's MVP.