MINOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM
The case for ELLY DE LA CRUZ
Elly De La Cruz’s movements are both quick and powerful.
That’s true when it comes to how swiftly the Reds’ top prospect blazes around the bases, the ferocity behind his arm when uncorking throws from the left side of the infield and the way the barrel of his bat rips through the zone before sending baseballs on express trips to parts unknown.
Those two words—quick and powerful—also aptly describe the impact De La Cruz’s early games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League had on members of the Reds’ player development staff.
“I wasn’t there at the time because I’m traveling around seeing all the clubs, and I got a phone call from our field coordinator and a phone call from our then-manager (in the ACL) who was like, ‘Hey, you need to see this kid because he is overmatching this league in ways that I can’t remember seeing before,’” Reds farm director Shawn Pender said.
A week later, Pender arrived in Arizona. It didn’t take long for him
