Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz manages quad strain while chasing a strong September finish

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is working through a mild left quad strain, and the club is taking a measured approach as the season winds down. The 24-year-old spent the entirety of the recent series against the San Diego Padres as the designated hitter, allowing him to keep his bat in the lineup while limiting stress on the injured muscle.

Manager Terry Francona told reporters that the young infielder has handled the restrictions well, noting that De La Cruz ran first to third earlier in the week while staying aware of the game situation and pacing himself rather than pushing to maximum effort. Francona said the medical staff believes De La Cruz can continue playing through the issue, provided he reports immediately if the strain worsens — a commitment the shortstop has made.

The injury first surfaced when De La Cruz was removed from a game against the Chicago Cubs the previous Sunday. Francona said he and bench coach Freddie Benavides jointly persuaded the shortstop to exit, no small task for a player who wants to be on the field for every inning — a trait Francona described as a “throwback” quality.

A message from a former teammate

During last week’s series in Chicago, former Reds first baseman Joey Votto — appearing on the broadcast for NBC, part of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) — passed along a pointed message to De La Cruz, which he then shared on air. Votto told De La Cruz to watch Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and predicted that the MVP chants directed at Crow-Armstrong would one day belong to De La Cruz, saying the shortstop possesses every tool needed to become the best player in baseball.

De La Cruz, who overlapped with Votto in 2023 during the veteran’s final major league season, said the endorsement carried weight. He credited Votto with teaching him to play the game the right way and to show up for teammates daily.

Stat context and road ahead

A three-week stint on the injured list in June will weigh on De La Cruz’s season totals, but his production on a rate basis has been strong. As for the gap between his current level and MVP-caliber performance, De La Cruz pointed to one thing: consistency.

What to watch

• Whether De La Cruz returns to the field at shortstop or continues serving as designated hitter in upcoming series.
• Any updates from the Reds on the quad strain as the club navigates the final weeks of the regular season and its playoff push.
• End-of-season statistical totals versus rate stats, given the June injured-list absence.

Source: original release