Already in his 4th MLB season, EDLC ready to hit the ground running

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Even though the reporting date for Reds position players isn't until Saturday, most of them have been early arrivals and have already gotten to work. On Thursday, shortstop Elly De La Cruz came to camp and went to the back fields at the complex to take batting practice and field grounders.

"I always come early to get ready to go," De La Cruz said on Friday.

Manager Terry Francona only briefly chatted with De La Cruz, but a more complete conversation will be happening soon.

“I was swimming when he came in. I actually tried to pull him in, but I wasn’t successful," Francona said. "I didn’t see him after that. The first three or four days with the pitchers and catchers, it’s like the one time where I actually get to spend the whole time, so I want to watch them throw.”

Still only 24 and a two-time All-Star, De La Cruz is entering his fourth big league season after hitting the scene during an electric 2023 debut year. In ‘25, the switch-hitter played all 162 games and batted .264 with a .777 OPS, 22 homers, 86 RBIs and 37 steals.

De La Cruz, who hit only four homers after the All-Star break, played through a strained left quadriceps that sapped his leg strength. That injury has since fully healed.

“I feel great," he said. "I worked on my legs to get them stronger.”

De La Cruz was one of the first Reds players to reach out to Eugenio Suárez when the free agent signed his one-year, $15 million contract on Feb. 3.

“It means a lot. He’s a great player. He’s been here for a long time," De La Cruz said of Suárez, who played for Cincinnati from 2015-21 and slugged 189 homers.

Suárez also means lineup protection behind De La Cruz, who is expected to bat third again. Suárez, who hit 49 home runs last season for the Diamondbacks and Mariners, will likely bat fourth.

De La Cruz liked the thought of that.

“Yeah, absolutely. He’s a great hitter. He can help us a lot," De La Cruz said.

Because last season's cleanup hitter -- Austin Hays -- was often injured, Francona had to mix-and-match several hitters to bat behind De La Cruz with varied results. De La Cruz also received a steady diet of offspeed pitches.

Francona also felt that Suárez's daily presence in the lineup should only help De La Cruz.

“I think the more guys that you have that teams have to kind of gameplan for, the better off you are," Francona said.

But De La Cruz will also need to take the next step in his own progression as the Reds try to boost their offense and build off their 2025 playoff season for even better results.

“I think the biggest thing is consistency in this game," Francona said. "He’s always going to have to fight the expectations because of what he can do physically. He’s so gifted. But the more consistent he gets, his tools are going to come shining through. That’s the biggest thing we’ve talked to him about.”