Elly blazes past 50-steal mark, on pace for most SB since '88
Human highlight reel Elly De La Cruz stole his 50th and 51st bags of the season in Game 1 of the Reds' doubleheader vs. the Braves at Truist Park on Wednesday. The matinee was Cincinnati's 102nd game of the season, putting De La Cruz on pace for 81 steals.
If De La Cruz maintains that torrid rate, the shortstop could be the first player to swipe at least 80 bags since Vince Coleman (81) and Rickey Henderson (93) in 1988, the last year any player reached the vaunted 80-steal mark. He is also miles ahead of the competition for the stolen base crown this season; Milwaukee's Brice Turang entered play in second place with 31 steals.
De La Cruz's incredible power was also on display on Wednesday, as he sandwiched those two steals around a solo home run, his 18th of the season, in the third inning. He took starter Allan Winans 402 feet deep to right-center with a 105.6 exit velocity.
Wednesday's Game 1 is also the 199th game of De La Cruz's young career. He entered the day with 84 stolen bases, 80 extra-base hits and 83 walks, making him the first player in the Modern Era (since 1900) to put up 80 steals, 80 extra-base hits and 80 walks in his first 200 MLB games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.