Elly De La Cruz has made a habit of showing up on highlight reels with his tape-measure home runs, but his latest dinger allowed him to showcase a pair of other tools -- speed and creativity.

Playing in his 13th game with Double-A Chattanooga since his July promotion, the No. 3 Reds prospect (MLB's No. 47 overall) came to the plate with one out in the fifth inning and belted a Scott Blewett fastball to straightaway center field, at first appearing like another one of De La Cruz's trademark blasts. Though it merely one-hopped the wall, his wheels took over and powered him to third base.

As if the triple wasn't exciting enough, things took a turn when De La Cruz, noticing a lackadaisical relay throw from the cutoff man, bolted for the plate. Birmingham third baseman D.J. Burt did his best to nab De La Cruz but the long strides of the 6-foot-5 shortstop were enough to beat the ball home.

Perhaps no player in the Minors has enjoyed a bigger breakout season in 2022 than De La Cruz, who slashed .302/.359/.609 with 20 home runs in 73 games with High-A Dayton before his promotion. In his sixth game with the Lookouts, after going homerless to that point, he unleashed on a blast that traveled an estimated 512 feet.

After acquiring Noelvi Marte (CIN No. 1) and Edwin Arroyo (No. 6) from the Seattle Mariners for Luis Castillo before the Trade Deadline, Cincinnati now boasts an ultra-impressive crop of shortstop prospects, including stalwarts Matt McLain (No. 4) and De La Cruz.