Reds' Elly De La Cruz Bulks Up, Excited to Team Up With Eugenio Suarez

Reds manager Terry Francona plans to manage De La Cruz's playing time differently this season after he played through injury in 2025.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz reported to Spring Training nearly 15 pounds heavier than last season, crediting upper body workouts and increased eating. De La Cruz is excited to team up with Eugenio Suarez, believing they can "do some damage together." However, Reds manager Terry Francona said he will manage De La Cruz's playing time differently this season after the young star played through a quad injury and appeared in all 162 games in 2025.

Why it matters

De La Cruz was on pace for a career year in 2025 before the quad injury, and the Reds are hoping the added strength and protection from Suarez in the lineup will help him take the next step. Francona's new approach to managing De La Cruz's playing time could also pay dividends and keep the young star fresh for the stretch run.

The details

De La Cruz reported to Spring Training weighing 217 pounds, up from 200 pounds last season. He credited upper body workouts and increased eating for the added bulk. De La Cruz is excited to team up with veteran slugger Eugenio Suarez, believing they can "do some damage together" and that Suarez will "protect" him more in the lineup. In 2025, De La Cruz slashed .284/.359/.495 with 18 home runs before the All-Star break, but his production dropped off after he played through a quad injury, finishing the season batting .236/.303/.363 with just 4 home runs. Reds manager Terry Francona said he mismanaged De La Cruz's playing time in 2025 and that the young star playing all 162 games "is not going to happen again." Francona plans to have "a couple of fights" with De La Cruz about managing his playing time this season to keep him fresh.

  • De La Cruz reported to Spring Training in 2026 nearly 15 pounds heavier than last season.
  • In 2025, De La Cruz slashed .284/.359/.495 with 18 home runs before the All-Star break.
  • In the second half of 2025, De La Cruz slashed just .236/.303/.363 with 4 home runs after playing through a quad injury.

The players

Elly De La Cruz

A young infielder for the Cincinnati Reds who is coming off a breakout 2025 season, though he played through injury in the second half.

Eugenio Suarez

A veteran slugger who the Reds are hoping will provide protection and support in the lineup for De La Cruz.

Terry Francona

The manager of the Cincinnati Reds who plans to manage De La Cruz's playing time differently in 2026 after the young star played through injury in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“He will help. He will protect me more, and I think we can do some damage together. It doesn't matter who it is; we just have to compete and take the game to the next level and help the team win the division and the championship.”

— Elly De La Cruz (WLWT)

“That's not going to happen again. I probably mismanaged that a little bit, and that's on me. That's not on him; he's a great kid, and I love the fact that he wants to play every day. I respect that a lot. I don't know if that's in his best interests. So we'll probably have a couple of fights about it.”

— Terry Francona, Reds Manager (Local 12)

What’s next

The Reds will monitor De La Cruz's workload closely during Spring Training as Francona looks to find the right balance to keep the young star fresh for the full season.

The takeaway

The Reds are making smart adjustments with De La Cruz, bulking him up to add power while also taking a more cautious approach to his playing time after he played through injury in 2025. If they can keep De La Cruz healthy and productive for a full season, the Reds could be poised for a deep playoff run in 2026.