LIVE: Watch Elly De La Cruz FREE on MLB.TV
Elly De La Cruz has arrived, and you can catch MLB Pipeline's No. 4 overall prospect in action for free on MLB.TV on Wednesday night, when the Reds take on the Dodgers in the Free Game of the Day at 7:10 ET.
The Reds on Tuesday promoted the electric infield prospect to the Majors, and he showed off his tools in his debut, ripping a double with an exit velocity of 112 mph, walking twice and scoring a run in Cincinnati's 9-8 walk-off win over the Dodgers.
For Triple-A Louisville, De La Cruz recorded a .297/.398/.633 slash line, with 12 homers and 11 steals over 38 games this season.
A 21-year-old from Sabana Grande de Boya, Dominican Republic, De La Cruz turned heads with his dynamic skill set throughout his time in the Minors, building an epic highlight reel and generating immense hype ahead of his much-anticipated callup.
The 6-foot-5 prospect had a game earlier this season in which he connected for three batted balls with exit velocities of 116 mph or higher, including a 118.8 mph double -- the hardest-hit ball in professional baseball this year.
He also showed off his arm strength with a 99.2 mph infield assist from third base to first in early May, and his speed when he went from home to third in just 10.97 seconds on June 2. Two days later, in what turned out to be the switch-hitter’s final at-bat for Louisville prior to his callup to the Reds, De La Cruz smoked a 117.3 mph double, his seventh batted ball with an exit velocity of 116 mph or higher in 2023.
In other words, you have a good chance to see something amazing any time De La Cruz steps on the field, so don’t miss the chance to see him in MLB.TV’s Free Game of the Day on Wednesday.