CINCINNATI — Terry Francona has been managing in the Majors for 25 years, winning two World Series and making it to another. He’s a lock for Cooperstown as one of the most successful managers the game has ever seen.
He has never seen a player like Elly De La Cruz.
He and the entire of Cincinnati were reminded of that again Tuesday night in a spectacular display that helped the Reds past the Colorado Rockies, 7-2. His historic start is helping the team achieve things not seen before.
The star shortstop had a pair of clutch defensive plays to go with his 3-for-4 night at the plate. De La Cruz homered and drove in four in the series opener Tuesday night. The Reds are 19-10, their best 29-game start to a season since 2006 (20-9). The 19 wins this season are their most prior to May since 1900.
With Tuesday’s win, the Reds improved to 8-2 (.800) in series openers this season, tied with the Yankees for the bestrecord among all Major League clubs in such games.
The homer was the tenth for De La Cruz, who became the first Major Leaguer since 1900 with at least 10 home runs and at least eight stolen bases before May. De La Cruz has eight stolen bases to go with his 10 long balls. His 10 homers are also tied for most by any Major League switch-hitter before May since 1900, joining Seattle’s Cal Raleigh (2025), Oakland’s Nick Swisher (2006), and Houston’s Lance Berkman in 2002 and 2006.
Defensively, De La Cruz made a spectacular throw across his body from deep in the hole to get a runner by a half-step in the second inning and started a key double play on a bad hop grounder to end the seventh inning.
“The win. That’s the best part. That’s the best part,” De La Cruz said after Tuesday’s win. “You play to win. We come with the same mentality every day. We’re just trying to win. We play to win, we’re going to keep it that way.”
The Reds enter Wednesday’s game winners in eight of their last ten.
The Cincinnati win was highlighted by three key defensive plays. With one out and a runner at second, Colorado’s Kyle Karros chopped a grounder deep in the hole at shortstop, and over the head of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. De La Cruz, moving to his right in the hole, backed up the play and fielded the ball, throwing across his body to first base to retire Karros by a half-step.
“The play he made to his right with the runner on first, that’s just as physically an impressive play as you’re ever going to see,” Francona beamed. “I thought the play that might have been more impressive was a double play ball, because that ball probably should have hit him in the Adams apple. I mean, that to me, that was a really good play.”
Hayes had a sly grin on his face that he shot at Elly after he made the throw and circled back around after Karros was retired by a half-step.
“He’s probably the only shortstop in the game that makes that play,” Hayes said.
His first play helped the Reds keep the Rockies off the scoreboard after Cincinnati jumped on Colorado starter Kyle Freeland for three runs in the first, highlighted by Spencer Steer’s two-run homer to left-center, his fifth of the year. De La Cruz capped his big night with a two-run homer to left in Cincinnati’s three-run eighth.
Burns won his third decision in six starts, scattering seven hits and two runs over six innings, striking out nine and walking one. With Burns at 88 pitches entering the sixth, the right-hander allowed a leadoff single to TJ Rumfield. But Cincinnati first baseman Sal Stewart fielded Tyler Freeman’s bunt cleanly and threw a strike to De La Cruz to get the lead runner.
The play proved pivotal as Troy Johnston followed with a double to put runners at second and third with one out. Burns followed with a strikeout and a foul pop-out to escape the jam.
Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft was the beneficiary of an inning-ending double play in the seventh started by De La Cruz, who fielded a bad hop to his neck to get out of a first-and-third, one-out bind.
Tyler Stephenson can only shake his head in amazement at the feats of Elly De La Cruz pic.twitter.com/qO6SPmYuCs
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) April 29, 2026
For 157 years, the Cincinnati Reds have been the bedrock of professional baseball. From the Big Red Machine to the Hall of Fame heroics of Barry Larkin, the Queen City has seen nearly everything a diamond can offer. Yet, as De La Cruz stood on second base Tuesday night—having just dismantled the Colorado Rockies with three hits, four RBIs, and two stolen bases—it became undeniable: we are witnessing a brand of history that even this storied franchise has never seen before.
Since his debut on June 6, 2023, the 24-year-old shortstop has not just been playing baseball; he has been rewriting the standard for greatness in Cincinnati baseball. Among the greatest athletes in Reds history are Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Ken Griffey, George Foster, Barry Larkin and of course, perhaps the best comp – Eric Davis.
Statistically, De La Cruz is a glitch in the system. He is slashing .291 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs in just 29 games. These aren’t just “hot start” numbers; they are the continuation of a historic trajectory. In 2024, he became the first primary shortstop in MLB history to record 25 home runs and 65 stolen bases in a single season.
By the time he reached his 200th career game, he stood as the only player since 1900 to tally 80 extra-base hits, 80 stolen bases, and 80 walks in that span. He doesn’t just pass legends; he joins them in exclusive rooms before he’s even eligible for arbitration. Last year, he became only the third Red ever—joining Pete Rose and Barry Larkin—to reach 100 hits before the All-Star break.
While the “Statcast” metrics—the 114.8 mph exit velocities and 10.83-second home-to-third sprints—grab the headlines, those inside the clubhouse see a different kind of greatness. Francona has been vocal about both Elly’s limitless ceiling and the weight of the expectations he carries.
“He’s always going to have to battle the expectations because there’s nothing he can’t do on the field,” Francona said recently. “What we’re trying to get him to do from Day 1 is be as consistent as he can be and let your tools affect the game to help us win.”.
That consistency was tested in the most harrowing way imaginable in 2025. Following the tragic death of his sister, Genelis De La Cruz, refused to miss a single start. He hit a home run hours after learning of her passing, gesturing to a family photo on a chain around his neck as he crossed the plate.
The Reds’ brass, including President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall, have reaffirmed their commitment to keeping De La Cruz at shortstop despite his 6-foot-6 frame and occasional defensive lapses (leading the league in errors in 2024 and 2025). The organization views these as growing pains for a “long-levered” athlete who gets to balls no one else can.
“Sometimes, when you’re that ultra-talented, you can outrun maybe some of your mistakes in the Minor Leagues that you can not necessarily do here,” Francona observed. The goal for 2026 has been “load management,” ensuring the superstar doesn’t wear down as he did during a quad strain in late 2025.
For fans, De La Cruz represents more than just a box score. He is the bridge between the glory of the 1970s and a future that looks increasingly bright in Cincinnati. His 2024 season, where his 67 steals led the majors, evoked memories of Morgan and Davis. As he continues his 2026 campaign, Elly isn’t just chasing history; he’s starting to own it. Whether it’s stealing second, third, and home on three consecutive pitches or joining the 40/40 conversation, every night feels like a potential “where were you?” moment.
“I just want to take what the game gives me,” De La Cruz insists.
Elly De La Cruz on the best part of his night, “the win” pic.twitter.com/51zIoWTx0V
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) April 29, 2026
