CINCINNATI -- Not a moment too soon, the Reds had Elly De La Cruz active and back in their lineup on Tuesday vs. the Brewers after the superstar shortstop spent three weeks on the injured list with a right hamstring strain.
“I feel good. I feel ready to go out there and do my part to help the team," De La Cruz said before the game.
This was the first time De La Cruz needed an IL stint during a Major League career that began in 2023. He resisted sitting for an extended period and pushed to come back sooner, but ultimately followed instructions from the medical staff and team leadership.
“I wanted to get back quick. It wasn’t fun not playing, but they know what they’re doing. You’ve got to trust them," De La Cruz said. “It doesn’t feel good, because I wanted to be there and try to help the team win. When you can’t, it doesn’t feel good."
De La Cruz, 24, hurt his hamstring running to first base on a hit vs. the Braves on May 31, ending a streak of 276 consecutive games played.
Entering Tuesday, De La Cruz was batting .280 with an .855 OPS and 12 home runs in 58 games this season. He played three rehab games at Triple-A Louisville before taking live batting practice against closer Emilio Pagán on Monday.
“Having him back is nice. You don’t know if a guy’s going to get hot, but [if] we keep him healthy and let him do his thing, it’ll be really welcome," manager Terry Francona said.
Since his debut, De La Cruz is a two-time All-Star who has assembled no shortage of highlights in just over three years. That includes hitting for the cycle; Tuesday was the three-year anniversary of that feat. He's also stolen second base, third base and home in succession, and hit a homer more than 460 feet.
Then there have been one dazzling play after another and great throws.
“It’s rare that you play with players in the Major Leagues who just roll out of bed and are straight-up better. But he is," first baseman Nathaniel Lowe said. "The talent level is that high. Baseball is an execution game over the long run and you play with a lot of guys that can do really special things for a week at a time, but it’s so impressive the way he really has a chance to put it together all year.”
While De La Cruz was out, the Reds lost 12 of their last 19 games while averaging 3.7 runs per game.
“He’s just a big component of this team, in all aspects. He’s a five-tool player. So having him back in the lineup, he’s just a threat everywhere. It’s only going to benefit everyone else," said outfielder JJ Bleday.
Not only can De La Cruz lengthen the Cincinnati lineup, he can impact the opposition's game planning and strategy, having to deal with him when he's on the bases.
“He’s just a threat all around, and it’s only going to take some of the thoughts on the other team and focus it towards him, which is only going to benefit the rest of the lineup," Bleday said. "It’ll definitely ease some things for everyone. At the same time, we still have a job to do and go out and give our best effort.”
To make room for De La Cruz, the Reds optioned outfielder Will Benson to Louisville. That meant that rookie infielder Edwin Arroyo, who was called up and debuted when De La Cruz went down, got to remain in the big leagues.
Arroyo and Matt McLain both play second base and can play shortstop. Arroyo was in the lineup on Tuesday, with McLain on the bench. How will this work going forward?
“I don’t know. That’s just being truthful. We kind of talked extensively for a while now knowing Elly is coming back," Francona said. "Just because we did this today, we don’t have to stay like this. I guess we’ll see how this works out. We’ll certainly keep an eye on Elly as he’s coming back. We don’t want this kid [Arroyo] just sitting.”
The last-place Reds entered Tuesday 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Brewers in the National League Central but only three games back from a Wild Card spot. In addition to De La Cruz, starting pitcher Hunter Greene (right elbow) and Pagán (left hamstring) are nearing returns from the IL.
De La Cruz remains confident the playoffs are still possible for Cincinnati.
“Absolutely. We’ve got a solid team," he said. “We definitely need those guys. We’ve got to keep fighting and play together.”