Elly De La Cruz Makes Exclusive List Following Impressive 2025 Season

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz came on the scene way younger than most Major Leaguers, making his big league debut at just 21 years old in 2023.

A couple of years later, the young superstar is still getting plenty of national hype.

Earlier this week, Bleacher Report ranked its top 25 athletes under the age of 25. De La Cruz was ranked No. 21 on their list.

"De La Cruz hit .284/.359/.495 with 18 home runs, 25 steals and a palatable 24.3 percent strikeout rate during the first half last season, but his production dipped across the board after the All-Star break," Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter wrote. "The MLB season is a grueling, six-month grind, and figuring out how to navigate that without getting worn down could be all it takes to fully unlock his MVP potential.

"Others are a safer bet to be superstars for the next decade, but De La Cruz's ceiling stacks up to anyone on this list."

De La Cruz is the most marketable player the Reds have had in quite some time. In 2025, he appeared on the cover on MLB The Show with Paul Skenes and Gunnar Henderson.

While he took a small step back on the field in 2025, there are plenty of reasons to expect big things from De La Cruz in 2026.

You can see their full list here.

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