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There is no doubt that Elly De La Cruz is one of the most exciting young players in the MLB with his blistering speed on the basepaths and his ability to hit with power from both sides of the plate. However, he can also sometimes be a disappointment in clutch situations due to his poor plate discipline and erratic defensive play.
Therefore, it was no surprise to see mixed reactions from MLB fans on social media when De La Cruz was announced as one of the finalists of the 2024 Silver Slugger Award for the shortstop position in the National League.
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Elly De La Cruz came into the 2024 campaign as one of the brightest young stars after a spectacular rookie season. The 22-year-old infielder made a bright start to the campaign, which allowed him to collect his first All-Star Game callup. De La Cruz ended the year on a .259/.339/.471 slash line with an .809 OPS to live up to his billing as a genuine power-hitting shortstop.
Yet, there were some frustrating traits in his game despite his stellar offensive numbers.
Although De La Cruz finished at the top of the MLB with 67 stolen bases, he was also caught stealing the most times among any player this season. He powered 20 home runs for the Reds this year, but he also led the entire MLB with 218 strikeouts, which accounted for more than 35% of his at-bats. He had the most putouts this year, yet he was the leader in fielding mistakes with 29 errors.
The fans responded with mixed comments about De La Cruz on Instagram under a post shared by the MLB.
"He's overrated," said one fan.
"If he can manage his strikeouts [he] will be a real problem," posted another fan.
"This guy is amazing," wrote another fan.
The following comments also flowed in on Instagram.
"Needs a new team like Ohtani," one fan said.
"Electric is the perfect way to describe Elly," wrote another fan.
"Elly De La Strikeout," replied another one.
Despite having strong seasons from a number of players like Hunter Greene, Elly De La Cruz and Nick Martinez, the Cincinnati Reds finished on fourth place in the NL Central with a 77-85 record.
Elly De La Cruz's spectacular debut season
Elly De La Cruz had an electrifying start to his MLB career after making his debut with the Cincinnati Reds in the middle of the 2023 season. Standing at 6' 5'', he became one of the tallest shortstops in major league history and soon earned his reputation as one of the fastest players in the game.
“He's the best runner I've ever seen, and he has the most power I've ever seen," said former Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who retired from the game last year. "And he has the strongest arm I've ever seen. He has a chance to be something spectacular…I can not wait to see him in a Home Run Derby.”
De La Cruz is unquestionably one of the top young players with sky-high potential. He is in a position to become one of the biggest superstars in the future if he manages to iron out the obvious flaws in his game.
