CINCINNATI -- Elly De La Cruz hit a home run on Monday that had people talking, measuring and, apparently, second-guessing the numbers.
In the Reds’ 4-1 loss to the Dodgers, De La Cruz launched a ninth-inning blast to right-center field that cleared the space between the smoke stacks and the right-field seats. The ball was said to have bounced on the outer concourse at Great American Ball Park and then onto Mehring Way. Statcast listed the drive at 457 feet.
De La Cruz didn’t sound convinced.
“I think that’s wrong. If the ball left the stadium, I think it’s farther than that," he said.
The homer was just the latest reminder of the kind of power De La Cruz can bring. He’s up to a career-high 27 home runs this season, and the long ball against Los Angeles was another one for the collection.
The longest homer of his career came in Cleveland on Sept. 26, 2023, when he went 467 feet as a rookie. His first career homer, on June 7, 2023, also came against the Dodgers and was estimated at 458 feet.
Neither of those left the ballpark.
For De La Cruz, the power is part of the package, not something he’s consciously trying to force.
“It just happens. You don’t try to do something," he said.
The 24-year-old came into Tuesday riding a 21-game on-base streak that began Aug. 22.
Over that stretch, he hit .419/.468/.767 with seven homers, 16 extra-base hits and 21 runs scored. Four of those home runs have come against the Dodgers.
Against Los Angeles in his career, De La Cruz entered with a .936 OPS and six home runs. Even with those numbers, he said he doesn’t treat the Dodgers any differently.
“I don’t know. I try my best against everybody," he said. “Same mentality against everybody.”
A lot of De La Cruz’s recent surge has come after he left an Aug. 30 game against the Cubs with a tight left quadriceps. He didn’t miss any time, but the Reds used him as the designated hitter for the next three games and four times overall that week.
That extra downtime may have helped, and manager Terry Francona pointed to both De La Cruz and strength and conditioning director Rob Fumagalli for helping keep him available.
"I think he’s done a really good job. Fumo, they’ve been on him not just about pre [game] but post [game].
Getting on the bike, doing some recovery stuff," Francona said. "He believes in it so much.
“He’s been good about [DHing]. He knows we have his best interest.
This has been a good learning experience. He said to me one day, ‘Trust me.’
And then I kind of said the same thing to him, ‘Trust me.’ He goes, ‘OK.’”
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