Reds' top prospect De La Cruz makes season debut

PITTSBURGH -- After missing the start of the season with a hamstring injury, Reds top prospect and shortstop Elly De La Cruz returned from the injured list this past week. De La Cruz hasn't wasted time in making his mark for Triple-A Louisville.

De La Cruz, who is ranked the No. 8 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, went 1-for-5 with a double in his season debut on Thursday against Charlotte. On Saturday, he made a spectacular diving catch on a line drive hit up the middle.

It was a play that required the 6-foot-5 De La Cruz to fully extend his body to his left.

The 21-year-old De La Cruz came back from a left hamstring strain that occurred during Spring Training.

Here are other items from around the Reds' player development system:

Triple-A Louisville
Cincinnati's No. 5 prospect, middle infielder Matt McLain, is continuing to make a push for a promotion. McLain leads the Bats with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 19 games entering Sunday while also playing solid defense at shortstop and second base.

McLain is being given more time to develop offensively before a potential callup. He struggled at the plate during the latter portion of the 2022 season with Double-A Chattanooga.

On Sunday, corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand was activated from the injured list. Encarnacion-Strand, ranked No. 6 in the organization, had been out with a slight herniation in his back. He had batted .577 with a 1.748 OPS, four homers and 13 RBIs in 12 spring games.

Double-A Chattanooga
Right-handed pitcher Connor Phillips (No. 11) struck out 11 batters over five innings in a no-decision on Thursday vs. Tennessee. Phillips allowed one earned run, four hits and one walk during the Lookouts' 2-1 defeat.

On Saturday, right-handed power pitcher Joe Boyle struck out 12 while pitching 5 2/3 innings for the win in an 11-0 victory over Tennessee. Boyle gave up three hits and four walks while lowering his season ERA to 1.98 in three starts.

High-A Dayton
During the Dragons' 7-3 win over West Michigan on Friday, shortstop Edwin Arroyo slugged a two-run home run during a five-run seventh inning. It was his first homer of the season.

Arroyo is ranked No. 3 in the organization and No. 38 overall.

Single-A Daytona
Outfielder Ariel Almonte hit his first homer of the season during the Tortugas' 6-4 win at Bradenton on Saturday. Almonte, who is ranked No. 20 in the organization, lifted his two-run drive over the fence in deep right field.

The Daytona win snapped an eight-game losing streak after the club started out 5-0.