Reds Manager Francona Vows to Manage Elly De La Cruz's Playing Time Differently in 2026

After star shortstop played through injury and personal tragedy, Francona acknowledges he needs to find more rest for the young phenom.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:41pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player in motion, with their form broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, green, and orange.Francona's new strategy for managing Elly De La Cruz's playing time aims to keep the young star fresh and productive throughout the entire season.Today in Orlando

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona is reflecting on his strategy for the 2025 season and admits he would manage star shortstop Elly De La Cruz's playing time differently if he could turn back the clock. The 23-year-old phenom played a staggering 162 games, starting in 161 of them, despite dealing with a nagging left quadriceps strain. Francona acknowledged his responsibility in this situation, stating he needs to find ways to get Elly off his feet from time to time, as the young player's relentless energy and desire to play every game may have contributed to his declining offensive performance in the second half of the season.

Why it matters

Elly De La Cruz is one of the most exciting young players in baseball, and the Reds' success is heavily dependent on keeping him healthy and productive throughout the entire season. Francona's decision-making on managing Elly's playing time will be closely watched, as it could have a significant impact on the team's playoff hopes.

The details

Elly De La Cruz played through immense personal tragedy in 2025, as his sister passed away on May 31st. He didn't miss a single game, even pushing back when Francona tried to give him a break as a designated hitter. While Elly's numbers were impressive, batting .264 with 22 homers and 86 RBIs, his power numbers dipped significantly after a strong start, which Francona believes could have been due to fatigue. Looking ahead to 2026, Francona is keeping his options open and doesn't have a set number of games in mind for Elly, but he realizes that waiting too long to rest him could be a mistake.

  • In 2025, Elly De La Cruz played a staggering 162 games, starting in 161 of them.
  • Elly's sister passed away on May 31st, 2025.
  • The Reds reached the postseason in 2025 with an 83-77 record.

The players

Terry Francona

The manager of the Cincinnati Reds, who is reflecting on his strategy for the 2025 season and plans to manage Elly De La Cruz's playing time differently in 2026.

Elly De La Cruz

The 23-year-old star shortstop of the Cincinnati Reds, who played a staggering 162 games in 2025 despite dealing with a nagging left quadriceps strain and personal tragedy.

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What they’re saying

“I need to find ways to get him off his feet from time to time, and I didn't do a great job.”

— Terry Francona, Cincinnati Reds Manager

What’s next

Francona is keeping his options open for 2026 and doesn't have a set number of games in mind for Elly De La Cruz, but he realizes that waiting too long to rest him could be a mistake.

The takeaway

Elly De La Cruz's health and productivity are crucial to the Reds' success, and Francona's ability to strike the right balance between keeping him fresh and maintaining momentum will be a key factor in the team's pursuit of sustained success.