Elly De La Cruz won’t be suiting up for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, and while that news might come as a surprise to fans, it’s a decision that appears to be rooted in long-term thinking by the Cincinnati Reds.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Earlier this offseason, De La Cruz was initially listed as part of the Dominican Republic’s WBC roster-a move that made sense given his star power and electric style of play.
But not long after the announcement, his name was quietly pulled from the list. That wasn’t the only event he was scratched from.
Back in early December, he was also set to participate in a home run derby in Miami, hosted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as part of a charity fundraiser. Again, De La Cruz was removed from the lineup, with Noelvi Marte stepping in-and ultimately winning the derby.
Now, as of late Friday night, it’s official: De La Cruz won’t be playing in the WBC. According to Reds reporter Mark Sheldon, the decision was made jointly by De La Cruz and the club, stemming from the quad injury he dealt with throughout the 2025 season.
That’s where things get interesting.
De La Cruz played all 162 games last season. That’s not a typo.
He didn’t miss a single regular season game. He was in the All-Star Game.
He played in both of the Reds’ playoff games. And all the while, the team knew he was managing a quad issue.
Yet, not once did he hit the injured list. Not once did he even get a day off outside of the team's scheduled rest days.
The only concession? A single start at designated hitter in the second half of the season.
So if the injury wasn’t significant enough to sideline him during a grueling 162-game campaign, why hold him out now-five months after the season ended?
That’s the question that’s hanging in the air. There’s no confirmation whether the quad was the reason he pulled out of the home run derby, and the team hasn’t provided much more detail beyond the fact that this is a precautionary move.
What we do know is that De La Cruz wanted to play in the WBC. According to Sheldon’s reporting, it was the Reds who made the call to keep him off the field.
From the outside, it looks like Cincinnati is playing the long game. De La Cruz is a franchise cornerstone-an explosive talent who brings power, speed, and flair to the top of the lineup. The Reds are clearly prioritizing his health and availability for the 2026 season over international competition, even if that means disappointing fans hoping to see him on the global stage.
This could be as simple as the Reds not wanting to take any chances. Maybe they saw how much he pushed through last season and decided it was time to pump the brakes. After all, quad injuries can linger if not fully healed, and the last thing Cincinnati needs is for their young star to aggravate something in a tournament that, while prestigious, doesn’t impact their win-loss column.
The bottom line: De La Cruz is out of the WBC, and the Reds are being cautious. Whether that caution is warranted or not, only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure-when Opening Day rolls around, all eyes will be on No. 44 to see if that quad is fully behind him and if he’s ready to pick up right where he left off.