The Cincinnati Reds kicked off their season with a tough Opening Day, getting shut out and managing just four hits. Sal Stewart accounted for three of those, with Elly De La Cruz grabbing the other. Despite the rocky start, there's a buzz around De La Cruz, as Keith Law from The Athletic has pegged him as the 2026 National League MVP in his preseason predictions.
It's not hard to see why De La Cruz is generating such excitement. Just two years ago, he posted an impressive 6.6 WAR season, though last year that number dipped to 4.3. A torn quad hampered his performance in the latter half of the season, affecting his speed and power.
Now at 24, De La Cruz is healthy and poised to capitalize on last year's positives. He made strides in reducing his strikeout rate from 31.3% to 25.9% while maintaining a solid walk rate. In the first half of last season, he showcased more power than ever before.
At this stage in his career, De La Cruz is in a prime position to keep improving. If he can build on his 2025 performance, the results could be electrifying.
Even with the injury, he finished second in stolen bases last year. While Terry Francona’s more conservative approach to base running might keep him from hitting 70 steals, 40+ is certainly within reach.
On the power front, De La Cruz was on track for 30 home runs by the All-Star break. If he stays healthy, hitting 30+ homers this season isn't out of the question. A bit more contact improvement could also boost his batting average.
Of course, this scenario hinges on everything going right. Staying healthy for a full season requires a bit of luck-avoiding injuries from pitches or collisions is often just a matter of inches.
Defensively, De La Cruz's role at shortstop is crucial. While he’s not the top defensive shortstop due to his error rate, his range and arm strength are undeniable.
If he can cut down on errors, his defensive value will soar. Many shortstops have faced similar challenges in their early 20s and improved with experience.
There's a lot of potential "what ifs" here. For De La Cruz to snag the MVP title, he'll need to elevate every aspect of his game.
Hitting for a higher average, boosting his power, and tightening up his defense are all key. While these improvements are challenging, they’re not out of reach.
Keith Law believes this could be De La Cruz’s year. By October, we’ll know if he was right.