Prospect Rankings
Player | Position | Current Team | Bats | Throws | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elly De La Cruz | SS/3B | Cincinnati Reds | MLB | 23 | S | R |
2 | Noelvi Marte | 3B/SS | Cincinnati Reds | MLB | 23 | R | R |
3 | Edwin Arroyo | SS | Cincinnati Reds | AA | 21 | S | R |
4 | Cam Collier | 3B | Cincinnati Reds | A+ | 20 | L | R |
5 | Spencer Steer | INF | Cincinnati Reds | MLB | 27 | R | R |
- AGE23
- BATSS
- DOB01/11/2002
- THROWSR
- HT6' 5"
- SIGNEDJuly 2, 2018 - CIN
- WT200
- ETA2023
- TWITTER
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 65
Signed for just $65,000 in July 2018, De La Cruz performed capably enough in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, but had to wait through the pandemic to make his United States debut in 2021. That’s where the legend began to grow, and quickly, as he dominated the Arizona Complex League so much that scouts from other teams started advocating for him to be a Top 100 prospect. He finished that year in full-season ball and then charged up prospect rankings by hitting his way to Double-A in 2022, finishing with a .945 OPS, 28 homers and 47 steals.
There are few prospects more dynamic than De La Cruz, both in terms of his five-tool potential and the joy and passion he brings to his game. The switch-hitter’s plus bat speed has been amplified as he’s added strength, and he has legitimate plus power, especially from the left side of the plate. He can still be over-aggressive at times, striking out in more than 30 percent of his plate appearances in 2022, but he showed improved patience while more than holding his own in the Dominican Winter League against much older competition.
Because of his size, he’s drawn some comparisons to the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz, and like Cruz, De La Cruz is eager to show he can stick at shortstop. He has the actions and plus arm to stay there for sure while also having no problems playing third and saw time at second with Licey this past winter. Just 21 for the 2023 season, he’s the kind of player who should have no ceiling placed on him, with the chance to be a true five-tool All-Star sooner rather than later.