The Cincinnati Reds enjoyed a 12-game winning streak earlier this month that catapulted them into first place in the National League Central.
Its young core with stars like Elly De La Cruz, Jonathan India, Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, Andrew Abbott, Hunter Greene and Alexis Diaz has been the driving force behind its recent streak of success.
De La Cruz was recently called up and has been a blessing for the Reds so far.
He possesses elite power, speed, and defense, as well as a strong arm.
On Twitter, MLB Network posted a chart showing De La Cruz currently leading in several important categories.
5️⃣⚒️ pic.twitter.com/4SLzKxgaUj
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) June 29, 2023
This season, the 21-year-old shortstop threw the hardest pitch recorded by an infielder, clocking 97.5 mph.
He also possesses the fastest average sprint speed of any player in all of baseball, covering 30.7 feet per second in a minimum of 25 competitive runs.
Their muzzle velocities have also drawn attention.
This season, he hit a ball off the bat at 118.8 mph.
That’s the hardest hit on record in the majors and minor leagues this year.
De La Cruz is hitting .301 on the season with three home runs, 11 RBIs, nine stolen bases and an .874 OPS.
Additionally, he reaches base with a .356 average, .518 slugging percentage and a 128 OPS+.
The Reds have gotten a huge boost from the emergence of De La Cruz and are reaping the benefits of having such a talented young star on their roster.
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Reds star Jonathan India shares a funny story about his father
