Elly De La Cruz has transformed the Reds against left-handed pitching

Elly De La Cruz has dramatically improved his performance against left-handed pitching in 2026, posting a 1.015 OPS that ranks sixth in the majors among qualified hitters, a stark reversal from his career struggles from the right side of the plate. The Cincinnati Reds have followed suit, improving from one of the worst teams against lefties in 2025 to seventh in the majors with a .732 OPS and a 10.9% walk rate. De La Cruz has recorded 139 plate appearances against southpaws this season compared to 210 last year, partly due to injury, and his expected statistics suggest some luck may be involved in his success. Manager Terry Francona has supported De La Cruz's development as a switch-hitter, and the infielder has been vocal about his commitment to improving from the right side.

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