De La Cruz crushes HR, reaches base 3 times in 1st rehab game
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Elly De La Cruz is inching closer to a return to the Majors.
De La Cruz, who has been on the injured list with a right hamstring strain since June 1, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
The Reds’ star shortstop did not disappoint, as De La Cruz singled in his first plate appearance and crushed a Statcast-projected 441-foot home run (114.1 mph exit velocity) his second time up to the plate. He then walked in his third and final plate appearance.
As planned, the 24-year-old played five innings at shortstop. He is expected to DH during Saturday’s game and then play nine innings at shortstop on Sunday. After that, it’s possible that De La Cruz could return to the Majors before the end of the month.