A red-hot debut season for Reds star Elly De La Cruz continued in a major way on Friday as the 21-year-old made history a little over two weeks into his career.
De La Cruz punctuated another standout showing in the Reds’ 11–10 win over the Braves by hitting for the cycle, amazingly achieving the feat by the sixth inning in just his 15th major league game.
The rookie slugger reached the mark after he doubled to center field in the second inning, blasted a 368-foot home run in the third, singled to center in the fifth and, finally, crushed a sixth-inning triple to right-center that drove in one run.
De La Cruz’s big night etched his name in Cincinnati’s record books as he became the seventh Red to hit for the cycle and the first to do so since All-Star Eric Davis in 1989. He is also the youngest player in 51 years–Astros star César Cedeño in 1972–to hit for the cycle, per ESPN.
Additionally, De La Cruz became the first player in the World Series Era (since 1903) to record 20 hits, five stolen bases and 3 homers in his first 15 career games, setting a mark not seen in the majors in more than a century. On the season, he has logged 23 hits and three HRs in 61 at-bats along with seven stolen bases.
116.6 mph off the bat! 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/1BcAIzAHON
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 23, 2023
ELLY DE LA CRUZ THAT IS ALL pic.twitter.com/JYXLDvJw06
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 23, 2023
ELLY DE LA CRUZ COMPLETES THE CYCLE 🔥
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 24, 2023
(via @Reds)pic.twitter.com/B5WEzyFCpn
Since he joined Cincinnati’s lineup on June 6, De La Cruz has quickly become a fan favorite, with games like Friday’s outing adding to the young star’s strong start.
With the Reds (41–35) in the midst of an 12-game win streak, De La Cruz figures to be a driving force for the resurgent club as “Elly-Mania” continues to run wild.
