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As the Cincinnati Reds prepare for a four-game series on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, infielder Elly De La Cruz expressed his admiration for Shohei Ohtani ahead of the first game. The Reds have lost their last three series in the MLB and are struggling with an 18-25 record so far, and need a turnaround soon.
Ahead of the first game on Thursday, De La Cruz was asked about playing against Ohtani, and the youngster was full of praise and respect for the Japanese star:
“He’s a really good player, I’m a big fan,” he said.
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Elly De La Cruz was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent in 2018 and went on to make his major league debut for them in June last year, after impressing in the minors.
With his electric pace between the bases and brute strength in his swing, he quickly caught the attention of baseball fans across the country. His highlight of the season was when he hit for the cycle just weeks after making his debut.
The Reds have not had a good start to the MLB season this year and will be eager to find a run of form that might push them up the NL Central table. Having lost four of their last five games on the road, the upcoming series in LA seems a daunting prospect. However, they will hope to turn things around sooner rather than later.
Elly De La Cruz reaches home plate trice as Reds take 4-0 lead vs Dodgers
Elly De La Cruz has made an incredible start for the Cincinnati Reds against the Los Angeles Dodgers, reaching home plate three times in the first five innings. The Dominican also recorded four stolen bases during that time, helping the Reds to an early 4-0 lead in the game.
De La Cruz's fourth stolen base of the night took his tally for the season to 30 in just 44 games. With more than half the MLB season yet to be played, he is well on his way to putting up historic numbers in his first full season in the major leagues.
