The 6-foot-5 shortstop rewriting the baseball record books
In short: He possesses the rare combination of immense power and elite speed. Since his 2023 debut, Elly De La Cruz has transformed the Cincinnati Reds' lineup, shattering long-standing statistical milestones and proving that even the tallest players can be the fastest on the field.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Elly De La<0xC2> Cruz defies the traditional physical profile of a middle infielder. While his height might suggest a slower gait, his 2023 season revealed a player with a sprint speed of 30.4 feet per second, tying him for the fastest in the league. This athleticism is paired with a devastating arm; in July 2023, he recorded an infield assist with a throw clocked at 97.9 miles per hour, the fastest recorded since at least 2015.
His impact on the game is best seen through his historic statistical surges. In 2024, he became the first shortstop in major league history to record at least 20 home runs and 60 stolen bases in a single season. He also joined an elite group of Reds players, including Joe Morgan and Eric Davis, by reaching the '20–5 overlap' of home runs and stolen bases. His ability to accumulate production rapidly was evident when he reached 300 career hits, 150 RBIs, and 100 stolen bases in just 310 games—the fastest any player has achieved that specific feat since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920.
Despite these heights, his journey has been marked by significant challenges. His 2025 season was shadowed by the loss of his sister, Genelis, and a late-season offensive slump attributed to a strained left quadriceps. Nevertheless, his trajectory remains historic. Whether it is breaking the Reds' pre-All-Star stolen base record or becoming the first player since 2012 to record four hits and four steals in one game, De La Cruz continues to redefine the limits of modern baserunning and power.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Elly De La Cruz
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-elly-de-la-cruz.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
