Bobby Witt Jr. remains the shortstop standard Elly De La Cruz must chase

Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds achieved career highs in batting average (.283), on-base percentage (.365), and slugging percentage (.515) in 2026, along with reaching the 30-30 club and dramatically improving against left-handed pitching. Despite these accomplishments, De La Cruz ranks second among shortstops behind Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr., who maintains superior career offensive numbers (.288/.343/.493 versus De La Cruz's .262/.338/.463) and significantly better defensive metrics. De La Cruz finished strong with a .348/.437/.719 September performance and a 23-game on-base streak, positioning him to potentially challenge Witt's dominance if he maintains that production and improves defensively.

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