Elly De La Cruz makes history with the 30-30 club in Cincinnati
Dominican phenomenon Elly De La Cruz continues to establish himself as one of the most electrifying figures in Major League Baseball. In the recent matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays, the shortstop reached a historic milestone by becoming just the fourth player in Cincinnati Reds history to record a season of at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
The feat was accomplished in the third inning of the game. After hitting a two-run double that gave his team a momentary lead, De La Cruz did not take long to pursue the remaining goal. On the first pitch to the next batter, the Dominican stole third base, beating catcher Alejandro Kirk’s attempt to catch him with an agile head-first slide.
An exclusive club in the franchise
With this achievement, the young talent joins a list of legends from the Cincinnati organization who have managed to combine power and speed in an exceptional way during the same campaign:
- Eric Davis (1987)
- Barry Larkin (1996)
- Brandon Phillips (2007)
It is important to highlight that Davis, Larkin, and Phillips are all members of the Reds Hall of Fame, while Larkin also holds a plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, which underscores the magnitude of De La Cruz’s performance at just 24 years old.
De La Cruz’s consistency has been key for Cincinnati, managing to complete the feat in a span of just three days of intense competition.
The path to the brand
The 30-30 chase was an exciting sequence that kept fans attentive to every at-bat. Last Tuesday, against the Atlanta Braves, the Dominican reached 29 home runs and 29 stolen bases. Subsequently, on Thursday, he hit his 30th home run against the same team, setting the stage for him to finish stamping his signature in the franchise’s record books during his visit to Toronto.
This season marks a turning point in Elly De La Cruz’s career, reaffirming his status as a cornerstone for the Reds’ future and demonstrating that his athletic ability knows no bounds on the diamond.
