Remember Elly De La Cruz? You know, the Cincinnati Reds prospect who stands 9 foot 3, runs a 2.4 40-yard dash, is the owner of five tools, and put up a ridiculous .949 OPS between High-A Dayton and AA Chattanooga last season?
After doubling and walking twice for AAA Louisville last night, he’s now the owner of a .959 OPS this season, and is somehow seemingly still getting better by the day. He’s upped his walk rate from 7.8% in 2022 to 12.9% this year, all while shaving 2.5% off his strikeout rate. He can run faster than anyone, throw harder than anyone, sock homers to places few have ever witnessed from both sides of the plate, and can do so all while playing the most taxing, difficult defensive positions on the diamond.