24-year-old Elly De La Cruz sealed a memorable season with the Reds by reaching the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases mark, a combination only three franchise legends have achieved before.
On Friday, June 26, at Hawaiian Park, De La Cruz stole third base in the third inning against the Blue Jays of Toronto. The steal was the final step that allowed him to close the feat, after a two-run double that left Cincinnati ahead. The play occurred when Blue Jays pitcher José Soriano threw to the next batter, Sal Stewart; De La Cruz sprinted to third, beat Alejandro Kirk’s throw and slid in with his head to get the base.
A record in three days
The 30-30 season was consolidated in a span of three days. On Tuesday, against the Braves of Atlanta, De La Cruz hit his 29th home run and stole his 29th base. On Thursday, also against Atlanta, by hitting his 30th home run he was one base away from completing the exclusive 30-30. The opportunity came the next day in Toronto, where his speed allowed him to close the mark.
Reds history
With the feat, De La Cruz joins Brandon Phillips (2007), Barry Larkin (1996) and Eric Davis (1987) as the only Cincinnati players to achieve 30 home runs and 30 steals in the same campaign. The three previous ones are members of the Reds Hall of Fame, and Larkin is also a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Impact and context
De La Cruz’s achievement reinforces his position as a team leader and demonstrates the balance between power and speed that the Reds seek in their players. The 30-30 combination is not only an individual mark, but also an indicator of the offensive versatility that contributes to the group, something that Cincinnati coaches value to compete in the postseason.
For the Dominican, the feat represents a personal milestone and recognition within the franchise, where the tradition of Dominican players combining power and speed is significant. His performance in the 2024 season has also been crucial for the Reds’ offense, contributing to their position in the division.
Credits: deultimominuto.com
