How Elly De La Cruz Turbo-Charged The Reds

·22 min·2 clips

An agent called to say the Reds had found 'our Tatis' in a skinny, $65,000 signee named Elly De La Cruz.

The episode begins by setting up the Cincinnati Reds' bleak situation after a 100-loss season. Reporter C. Trent Rosecrans joins to explain the team's dramatic turnaround. He first contextualizes the recent fan frustration, pointing to owner Bob Castellini's unfulfilled championship promise and the controversial 'where are you going to go?' comment from team president Phil Castellini in 2022. Rosecrans explains the behind-the-scenes transformation began with General Manager Nick Krall's decision not to trade prospects, instead focusing on acquiring more athletic players. The narrative then shifts to the discovery of Elly De La Cruz in the Dominican Republic in 2018, where he was signed for a mere $65,000 bonus. Rosecrans describes the moment De La Cruz emerged as a serious prospect, with an agent calling him 'our Tatis.' The episode details De La Cruz's rapid ascent through the minors and his eventual call-up in June 2023. It vividly recounts his immediate impact, including a near-500-foot home run, stealing third and home on one pitch, and unleashing a 97.9 mph throw from third base—the fastest infield assist ever recorded. The Reds won 14 of their first 16 games after his arrival, including a 12-game win streak. Rosecrans describes the electric atmosphere at Great American Ballpark when De La Cruz hit for the cycle, drawing comparisons to Reds legends Eric Davis and Frank Robinson. The second half of the episode explores the relationship between the 21-year-old De La Cruz and 39-year-old franchise icon Joey Votto. Rosecrans outlines Votto's unique personality and his deliberate efforts to connect with the young core, including joking about untucking his shirt and playing PlayStation. Finally, Rosecrans assesses the team's playoff chances, noting their relentless style and deep young talent, and concludes that the Braves would not want to face them in the postseason.

As heard by us

A tight Reds story about a call-up who electrified Cincinnati.

It frames the Reds' turnaround as a story of timing, with one player arriving just when a 100-loss hangover needed a jolt. The arc moves from a 7-15 start and crowds around 10,000 on many nights to Elie De La Cruz's June call-up, while Chuck Rosecrans explains the minor-league…

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Why you'd press play

You want a Reds story about a 21-year-old who changed the temperature in Cincinnati fast.

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