Could Elly De La Cruzwind up in the playoffs even after his Cincinnati Redswere eliminated?
Maybe not officially. But his impact might be felt on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ efforts to become the first National League team to win three consecutive World Series.
That’s because the Dodgers’ top prospect, outfielder Josue De Paula, counts De La Cruzamong his mentors after spending offseason time in recent years in workout groups that included De La Cruz.
And De Paula has made just enough of an early impression since earning a debut last week when Shohei Ohtani went on the injured list that the Dodgers have him on their radar for a possible spot on an otherwise
playoff-tested, veteran-laden postseason roster.
“This is more of a trial run, no promises,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week, when he pushed De Paula to the top of the order for a game against the Reds that the Dodgers won 4-0.
“Having Shohei down, we’re giving a guy who’s performed well an opportunity and then just sort of seeing where it takes us,” Roberts said. “I hope he continues to perform and take those (disciplined) at-bats, and then we’ll see where we’re at, at the end of September.”
DePaula, 21, ranked sixth on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list of prospects when he was called up. In his first four games ahead of the leadoff assignment, he was 2-for-9 with a home run and five walks, which translated to a 1.167 OPS.
“I’ve known him for a while, training together,” De La Cruz said. “Really good player. I’m really glad he made it to the big leagues.
“I know that he’s a good kid,” said the 24-year-old Reds All-Star. “Really good.”
Jokes about old-man De La Cruz’s new status as a veteran mentor aside, those Miami offseason workouts among clients of agent Scott Boras – if not that influence on De Paula – might impact yet one more weapon for the mega-payroll, juggernaut Dodgers.
Or at least give one Red one small stake in this year’s postseason.
Now De Paula just has to perform well enough over the next week or so to earn an extended stay on the Dodgers roster – better than he did in that leadoff cameo (0-for-5, two strikeouts).
“It’s been good that you can even bring that question up,” Roberts said of the postseason possibility. “I hope he makes our decision hard.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Cincinnati Reds SS Elly De La Cruz might impact MLB playoffs
