CINCINNATI -- Since he made his Major League debut just under three years ago, shortstop Elly De La Cruz has been the Reds' best player and their biggest game-changer. Now Cincinnati will have to find a way without its two-time All-Star.
For the first time in his big league career, De La Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday after an MRI revealed a right hamstring strain that is expected to keep him out around two to four weeks. It will end his streak of consecutive games played at 276, which had been the third-longest active streak in MLB.
“We got it scanned, and it’s kind of between a Grade 1 and 2 [strain]," manager Terry Francona said. "He got, not a PRP injection, but something very similar for soft tissue. He’ll be a couple of days just getting treatment. Depending on how he feels, they’ll start letting him do some things.”
To replace De La Cruz, infielder and No. 3 Reds prospect (No. 98 overall) Edwin Arroyo was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to make his big league debut.
De La Cruz, 24, was initially optimistic that he avoided something serious after leaving Sunday's 6-4 win vs. the Braves in the fifth inning. With a drive to the wall in right-center field for what should have been an extra-base hit, he pulled up as he got to first base.
“I thought it was tight. 'There’s nothing bad with this, this is going to come back OK, and then [in] two or three days, I’m going to be back.' It was not like that," De La Cruz said via translator Tomas Vera.
In 58 games this season, De La Cruz is batting .280 with an .855 OPS while tied with Sal Stewart for the team lead in home runs (12), RBIs (37) and stolen bases (10).
De La Cruz is expected to get a second MRI in around two weeks to check his healing and determine if he can increase his activity.
“We’ve got to be smart," De La Cruz said in English. "We've got to take the time and let it heal 100 percent to be back on the field.”
For the Reds, who finished May with a 10-17 record after dropping two of three games in their series vs. the Braves, De La Cruz is the biggest name to join a long list of players on the IL. It also includes starting pitchers Hunter Greene and Rhett Lowder, closer Emilio Pagán and relievers Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson.
Arroyo, 22, is a natural shortstop but also plays second base and third base. He started at second base in Monday's series opener vs. the Royals while usual second baseman Matt McLain moved to shortstop.
For the Reds to get through De La Cruz's absence successfully, it will take more than McLain and Arroyo to pick up the slack.
“It can’t just be one guy," Francona said. "We’re going to need to go not just one through nine but one through 13. And just don’t do more; play the game the way you’re supposed to.”