Reds' Elly De La Cruz Poised for Monster 2026 Season

Healthy and protected in the lineup, the young shortstop could take a major step forward.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:20pm

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is primed for a breakout 2026 season after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. De La Cruz was dominant in his first two MLB seasons, posting 10.9 fWAR, but a quad injury limited his production in the second half of last year. Now healthy, De La Cruz is expected to benefit from added protection in the lineup with the addition of Eugenio Suárez, which should result in him seeing more pitches to hit.

Why it matters

De La Cruz is one of the most exciting young players in baseball, and a monster season from him could help propel the Reds to new heights. The team has been trending in the right direction, and a breakout year from their superstar shortstop would be a major boost.

The details

In the first half of the 2025 season, before the quad injury, De La Cruz posted an impressive 128 wRC+ and 6.6 fWAR. However, the injury limited his effectiveness in the second half, as he managed just a 80 wRC+ and 4 HR with 12 SB. With the addition of Eugenio Suárez to the lineup, pitchers will be less inclined to pitch around De La Cruz, which should result in him seeing more hittable pitches and the opportunity to put up monster numbers.

  • In the first half of the 2025 season, De La Cruz was one of the most productive players in the league.
  • A quad injury in the second half of 2025 limited De La Cruz's production.
  • De La Cruz is healthy and ready to dominate in the 2026 season.

The players

Elly De La Cruz

A superstar shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds who has posted 10.9 fWAR in his first two full MLB seasons.

Eugenio Suárez

A veteran infielder who was recently added to the Reds' lineup, providing more protection for De La Cruz.

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What they’re saying

“Elly De La Cruz? The Superstar? Daring, I know! It is hard to expect much more from a player that has posted 10.9 fWAR in his first two full MLB seasons, but here I am. This selection is mostly driven by my bearish view of Elly's projections entering the season. Of course projections are going to heavily weigh his 2025 season where a quad injury turned Elly into a shell of himself, but that is where context is king.”

— Thomas Nestico, Analyst

What’s next

De La Cruz will look to build on his strong start to the 2026 season and put together a monster campaign to help the Reds contend in the NL Central.

The takeaway

With Elly De La Cruz healthy and protected in the Reds' lineup, the stage is set for the young superstar to take a major step forward in 2026 and cement his status as one of the best players in baseball.