Elly De La Cruz is showing the Reds his MVP ceiling and it’s scary

Elly De La Cruz is having a breakout 2026 season for the Cincinnati Reds, hitting a career-high .281 with a 99th-percentile exit velocity and a career-best 11% walk rate, yet he's receiving minimal recognition in MVP voting discussions. The 24-year-old shortstop ranks second in the National League with 5.3 fWAR despite missing three weeks in June with a hamstring strain and currently playing through a quad injury. Since late August, De La Cruz has been particularly dominant, slashing .455/.556/.773 with four home runs in limited action. He has also significantly improved against left-handed pitching this season, posting a 1.055 OPS compared to his career .607 mark against southpaws.

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