CINCINNATI (WKRC) – There is perhaps no other player in baseball that embodies a five-tool player than Elly De La Cruz. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop hits well, hits for power, is one of the fastest players in baseball, has incredible range at shortstop and likely the strongest arm for a position player in the game.
He showcased those talents during Saturday’s 11-1 rout of the Detroit Tigers with a homer but also an assist to cut down a runner at the plate — one of the most impressive relay throws all season.
EDLC in the bottom of the third inning took at relay throw in short right field from Jake Fraley, turned and fired a 98.3 mph strike to Jose Trevino at home plate to cut down Javier Baez with relative ease.
Per Sarah Langs on X, the throw, an estimated 181 feet, was the fastest-tracked assist by an infielder under Statcast this season and fourth-best since 2015:
- 7/20/23 Elly De La Cruz: 99.8 mph
- 8/27/23 Elly De La Cruz: 99.7 mph
- 5/28/24 Gabriel Arias: 98.5 mph
- 6/14/25 Elly De La Cruz: 98.3 mph
- 7/16/23 Elly De La Cruz: 97.9 mph
- 7/14/22 Oneil Cruz: 97.8 mph
- 8/15/23 Elly De La Cruz: 97.5 mph
- 5/31/24 Oneil Cruz: 97.4 mph
- 9/20/20 Fernando Tatis Jr.: 97.3 mph
- 9/4/24 Masyn Winn: 97.2 mph
“I know it doesn’t count any more on the scoreboard, but it’s almost like an alley-oop dunk,” Reds manager Terry Francona said to media after the game, as recounted by MLB.com writer Mark Sheldon. “You feel like you get some momentum.”
“De La Cruz is pretty much extraordinary in everything,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, per Sheldon. “He’s incredible. When they reversed that [relay], I don’t blame them why they do it. They want him to take every outfield throw for that precise reason. And he threw a bullet.”
Of course, De La Cruz then ripped a 110.1 mph homer to lead off the next inning, his third straight game going yard — a career first.
It was also his 15th homer of the season, most by any MLB shortstop at the time. EDLC’s 52 runs and 47 RBI are tops among all MLB shortstops.
