Elly De La Cruz’s latest streak of electrifying moments has transcended the confines of the diamond and caught the eyeballs of Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
The Reds shortstop has dazzled fans with his blazing speed on the bases and his knack for making highlight-reel plays since making his MLB debut on June 6 against the Dodgers. Among those he’s impressed is Mahomes.
After Cincinnati earned a 7–4 victory against the Royals on Wednesday, the two-time NFL MVP provided the rookie sensation with one of his jerseys that he autographed.
In return, De La Cruz gifted Mahomes with an autographed bat with the words “world’s fastest man,” a reference to the shortstop’s recent comment stating that he was the “fastest man in the world” after his jaw-dropping play in the Reds road win over the Cardinals on Saturday. Mahomes also received a signed ball.
Surprisingly, as De La Cruz’s teammates raved about Mahomes’s gesture, the 21-year-old admitted that he was not very familiar with the two-time Super Bowl champion.
In fact, when asked if he’d ever watched Mahomes play, De La Cruz stated “just in the Super Bowl,” per the Cincinnati Enquirer.
While the shortstop has earned a new fan and token of respect from one of the NFL's elite, it will be interesting to see if he wears the Chiefs jersey to Paycor Stadium for a Bengals game next season. Surely, Joe Burrow and company would have something to say about that.
