Elly De La Cruz has quickly become one of the most electrifying young stars in Major League Baseball. The 23-year-old shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds has flashed superstar potential since debuting in 2023. Last season, he made history as the first MLB player ever to record at least 25 home runs and 65 stolen bases in a single season, swiping 67 bags in total. That performance earned him an eighth-place finish in the National League MVP voting and left fans wondering just how high his ceiling could be. The Reds have embraced every opportunity to celebrate his accomplishments.
On Saturday, with the Reds hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates, fans at Great American Ballpark were treated to an Elly De La Cruz bobblehead giveaway—and De La Cruz delivered in dramatic fashion. In the bottom of the third inning, with the bases loaded and a full count, he crushed a 90 mph fastball from Andrew Heaney over the left field wall for his second career grand slam. The crowd erupted, and the Reds’ social media team quickly reacted, posting just four words: “ON HIS BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT.”
After the game, De La Cruz reflected on the moment, saying, “Yeah, it means a lot. There were a lot of fans here, and they’re special to us.” The grand slam was his third home run of the season, adding to his three stolen bases so far in 2025.
Offensively, the Reds have had a slow start this season, ranking tenth in the NL in runs scored (58) and tied for 10th in home runs (14). Saturday’s 5-2 victory over the Pirates improved their record to 7-8. De La Cruz will look to keep the momentum going as Cincinnati aims for a sweep in the series finale on Sunday.
