Scouting Report: Carlos De La Cruz

Summary

Elly De La Cruz is emerging as a five-tool superstar for the Cincinnati Reds at shortstop. Through early May 2026, he leads all shortstops in WAR (1.9) and is competing with Bobby Witt Jr. as the top shortstop in baseball. De La Cruz is slashing .265/.337/.510 with 10 home runs, 8 stolen bases, and 7 doubles. He has demonstrated improved plate discipline with a lower chase rate, ranks near the top of the league in hard-hit metrics (average exit velocity, max exit velocity, hard hit rate, barrel rate), and has logged multiple games with 3+ RBIs. At just 24 years old in his third full season, he is developing into an MVP candidate under the tutelage of coaches Freddie Benavides and Ke'Bryan Hayes.