Elly De La Cruz authors a poetic moment vs. Aroldis Chapman
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – In the early 2010s, Cincinnati Reds fans packed into Great American Ball Park to see Aroldis Chapman pitch. He was a closer who would put on a show, throwing 105 mph on his way to four straight All-Star teams.
Reds fans loved Chapman because he gave them a chance to witness something they had never seen before on a baseball field. At the time, there wasn’t a pitcher who could throw anywhere near as hard as Chapman could.
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Now, there’s a new prospect in the Reds’ organization with tools that no player in baseball can match. On Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, that prospect tripled off Chapman in a poetic moment between an old Reds’ icon and the player who could be the Reds’ future.
As the Royals beat the Reds, 12-6, at Goodyear Ballpark on Saturday, star shortstop prospect Elly De La Cruz showed in one play why he can be the next one-of-a-kind Reds player. Facing the pitcher who starred on the last great Reds teams, De La Cruz settled into the batter’s box in the third inning and put on a show of his own.
De La Cruz tripled off Chapman and showed his rare combination of power, speed and confidence.
“I knew it was going to be a triple all the way,” De La Cruz said via interpreter Jorge Merlos. “Everything I hit out on a line or into the gap, I think it’s going to be a triple. Until they can get me out.”
“He does a lot of things on the field, but maybe the baserunning is the most enjoyable to watch,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Just seeing him float around the bases.”
Chapman threw a 100 mph fastball, and De La Cruz hit a low line drive into right field. For most baseball players, it would have been a standup double. De La Cruz was thinking bigger. There’s only been one other 6-foot-6 shortstop in baseball history, and De La Cruz has the rare ability to accelerate around the bases with long strides like he did in the third inning.
De La Cruz doesn’t know Chapman, but he knows of him as a pitcher who has been one of the best flamethrowers of the last decade. “You got a guy out there who can really throw hard and get you out,” De La Cruz said.On Saturday, the latest prospect with a unique skill set got the best of Chapman.
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In his next at-bat, De La Cruz showed his power with a no-doubt homer against Royals relief pitcher Max Castillo. The switch-hitting De La Cruz hit his triple from the right side of the plate. His home run came from the other side of the batter’s box, and it nearly left the premises of Goodyear Ballpark.
“He had been taking good swings all spring,” Bell said. “He's doing everything you'd want him to do.”
De La Cruz knew it was a homer right away and watched the ball carry. He skipped on top of third base. When he crossed home plate, he put his hands together in the shape of a heart.
There isn’t a prospect in all of baseball who can match De La Cruz’s size, speed and power. De La Cruz promised Reds fans an “electric” skill set, and he put it all on full display on Saturday.
“I’m just enjoying every single moment,” De La Cruz said. “Living life as great as I can and being the best I can.”
Injury report
Reds starting pitcher Justin Dunn has battled a shoulder injury since the team traded for him 12 months ago, and that same injury will keep him sidelined for the next few months. This week, Dunn went to a doctor in New York to be reevaluated, and there’s still inflammation from a subscapularis injury.
Three observations
Reds starting pitcher Connor Overton was looking to bounce back from a spring training debut where he surrendered six runs and recorded four outs. He only allowed three earned runs on Saturday against the Royals, but the results were more of the same. Royals designated hitter MJ Melendez crushed a fastball for a home run to start the game, and Overton allowed a few more hard-hit fly balls to the warning track and line drives into the gap. He landed a few breaking balls for strikes, but the Royals timed up Overton’s pitches well.
Outfielder Henry Ramos, a 30-year-old non-roster invitee who played in Korea last year, has been the Reds’ most consistent hitter during spring training games. He crushed a double off the wall in the second inning. Then he added an RBI single in the third, picking up his sixth hit in nine at-bats this spring. Ramos had a cup of coffee with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021, and he’s currently turning heads to get in the mix for a bench spot in the Reds’ outfield. He has some power, is a good athlete and can be a solid defender in left or right field.
The Reds signed veteran Wil Myers to be an imapct bat in the middle of their lineup, and he’s living up to expectations in that area. He had two line drive singles against the Royals, but his most impressive contributions were what he did in the field. The Reds will have Myers start regularly at first base until Joey Votto returns from his shoulder injury. Myers made a few highlight plays, including a 3-6-3 double play.
Up next
Sunday –– The Reds have another split-squad day with a game in Las Vegas against the Oakland Athletics and a matchup against the Los Angeles Angels. Nick Lodolo will face the Athletics, and Luis Cessa will start against Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds' Elly De La Cruz authors a poetic moment vs. Aroldis Chapman
