With blazing fast triple, Elly hits for Cincy’s first cycle since ‘89

CINCINNATI -- Call him Elly De La Cycle.

It took top prospect Elly De La Cruz only 15 Major League games to accomplish something not done by a Reds hitter in 34 years -- hit for the cycle. It happened on Friday night in a wild 11-10 win over the Braves at Great American Ball Park when the 21-year-old notched a double, home run, single and triple in his first four at-bats, leading the Reds to their 12th straight win -- their longest win streak since 1957.

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That ended the longest drought in the Major Leagues for a team without hitting for the cycle. The last Reds player to achieve the feat was Eric Davis vs. the Padres on June 2, 1989.

"Honestly, I can't really put it into words right now," De La Cruz said via translator Jorge Merlos. "I'm just happy, excited and honored to be part of this today. Glad that it all took part like that."

De La Cruz was assigned No. 44 by the Reds, in part, as an homage to Davis -- now a club executive and among De La Cruz’s mentors.

"It's just fortunate because he's one of the legends of this game. Here in Cincinnati, too," De La Cruz said. "And to be the second person to do that after him and wear that same number is just incredible and an honor for that to happen."

In the bottom of the second inning against AJ Smith-Shawver as the Reds trailed, 5-0, De La Cruz smoked a 116.6 mph line drive off the wall in right-center field for a double.

"He hit a ball off the wall today as hard as I’ve seen anybody hit a ball," said first baseman Joey Votto, who hit two home runs with four RBIs and was somehow upstaged by De La Cruz.

“One of the hardest balls I’ve ever seen hit," said manager David Bell. "From the very first swing he took, a foul ball straight back, you could tell it was going to be a great night.”

"Truly, the television doesn't do it justice," Votto added. "Watching these guys live is bigger, faster, dirtier -- the game is fast, but these guys are faster. This is the most enjoyable version of baseball I think I've ever seen."

With two outs in the third inning, De La Cruz lifted a first pitch high in the sky at a 37-degree launch angle for a two-run homer to right field.

A broken-bat RBI single followed for De La Cruz in the fifth inning against Collin McHugh.

“Elly did it all tonight, there’s no question about it," Bell said. "He showed off what he’s capable of doing in a big game.”

In the sixth inning against Ben Heller, De La Cruz hit a drive into the right-center-field gap, motored at 30.5 feet per second and reached third base in 10.83 seconds for his triple to complete the cycle as the sold-out crowd of 43,086 fans roared.

As a Braves pitching change followed two batters later, the scoreboard told the crowd about the cycle. De La Cruz, who was sitting on third base, acknowledged the loud applause.

"What could I say? It was just a crazy moment," he said. "I was very emotional at that time. I'm just happy that the fans were out there and they are so great with me. I'm just glad I can do that kind of stuff for them."

De La Cruz's time from home to third base ties him for the fastest tracked in MLB this season -- with himself (June 7).

De La Cruz is the fifth-youngest player to hit for the cycle and he did it in the third-fewest games, trailing Cliff Heathcote (six games) and Gary Ward (14).

Not to be overlooked defensively, De La Cruz ran into left-field foul territory to make a difficult catch as he fell and crashed into left fielder Spencer Steer.

“It’s incredible to see what he’s doing with his abilities," said Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. before the game. "It’s been fun to watch him showcase that. I wish him continued success and health."

In 15 games for the Reds, De La Cruz is batting .361 with a 1.074 OPS, three homers, 10 RBIs and seven steals in eight attempts.

“Elly De La Cruz will be the best baseball player in MLB in the future," Reds second baseman Jonathan India said. "He could even be it right now. That kid is something special and he’s going to do a lot in this game. He’s a humble kid, that’s what’s so special about him. He’s a great teammate and he’s a winner. You get that mixture of talent and competitiveness, it’s a scary sight for the league.”