Elly De La Cruz has evolved into a household name while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. His charismatic personality has brought him a lot of praise and love from fans, managers and analysts.
One year after leading the majors in stolen bases, De La Cruz is again among the top in that category. He has swiped 22 bags, while hitting .279 with 18 home runs and the way he carries himself is driving comparisons to NBA great Michael Jordan.
On Thursday, Reds manager Terry Francona appeared on "The Rich Eisen Show" and discussed the shortstop. Alike MJ, De La Cruz's magnetic personality has made him a fan favorite in the clubhouse.
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"I mean, you know, I’m new here—or fairly new here—and even, like, you know, we’re going to Boston Monday and my grandkids want to talk to him," Francona said (4:55). "He has that allure. I had heard about it before I got here, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen… I mean, MJ’s the one. But when this kid walks out into the field or into the dugout or somewhere, everybody goes crazy for him.
"And I think it’s a combination of his talents, you know, the way he plays the game, and then his personality," Francona added. "Like, you just look at him—the way he carries himself—you can tell he’s a good kid. And I mean, it comes shining through. And to me, you know, when you couple that with the talent he has, that makes him pretty special."
Elly De La Cruz makes decision on MLB Home Run Derby participation
The MLB All-Star game is next month and it means fans will be treated to another exciting Home Run Derby contest. However, they won't be seeing Elly De La Cruz stepping inside the batter's box to take balls deep.
According to The Athletic, the Dominican has opted against participating in the contest despite an invitation from the organization. It was a strategic decision made by the shortstop with a long-term objective in mind and staying healthy for the second half of the season.
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Krutik Jain is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2022. It was in 2018 when the baseball bug bit Krutik, and already a cricket fan, he credits baseball's rules and Clayton Kershaw's pitching to have hooked him to the game.
A Kershaw and Mookie Betts fan, Krutik rates his favorite team LA Dodgers triumphing over Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series as his best baseball moment so far. His answer to the perennial "one player from the past you could meet" question is Jackie Robinson. Despite never having seen him play, Robinson's impact, legacy and trail-blazing journey have left an indelible impact on Krutik.
A rigorous fact-checker, Krutik likes reporting on the technical aspects of the game as well as off-field elements. When not watching baseball, Krutik is busy playing cricket, staying up to date with the happenings around the world and hiking.
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