Elly De La Cruz entered the final week of the 2026 regular season with a chance to join one of the most elite clubs in Major League Baseball history.
Only 51 players have ever managed to homer at least 30 times and swipe at least 30 bags in a single season, and only a trio of Cincinnati Reds legends have ever accomplished said feat, either. That trio? None other than Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, and Brandon Phillips.
Elly, who opened Thursday’s series finale against the Atlanta Braves with
both 29 homers and 29 steals to his name so far this season, just smashed his 30th homer.
This particular big fly carried 402 feet off a heater thrown by former Cincinnati Red Tyler Mahle, and it spearheaded a big 3rd inning that saw the Reds flip a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead.
Now, if only he can get on base and swipe one more bag…
