Cincinnati Reds shrtstop Elly De La Cruz completed a 30/30 season in 2026. He reached the milestone on September 26 after hitting his 30th home run of the year.
The September 26 Home Run that Sealed the 30/30
The path to history for Elly De La Cruz culminated in a dramatic 48-hour window. According to the report, De La Cruz first secured his 30th stolen base on Friday, September 25, during the third inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, swiping the bag from pitcher Jose Soriano. In a rare statistical flourish, Elly De La Cruz also recorded his 30th double of the season during that same inning, showcasing a versatility that has defined his 2026 campaign.
The milestone was officially completed the following day, September 26. In another third-inning appearance, Elly De La Cruz launched his 30th home run of the season off Tyler Mahle,a pitcher who previously played for the Cincinnati Reds but currently suits up for the Atlanta Braves. This sequence of events cemented De La Cruz's place as one of the most productive offensive forces in Major League Baseball this year.
Joining Eric Davis and Barry Larkin in the Reds' Record Books
By hitting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases, Elly De La Cruz becomes only the fourth player in Cincinnati Reds history to achieve the feat. He joins an elite group that includes Brandon Phillips, who hit 30 home runs and stole 32 bases in 2007 , and Barry Larkin, who posted 33 home runs and 36 steals. The franchise record for this category remains with Eric Davis, who combined 37 home runs with 50 stolen bases in a single season.
The 2026 season also highlights De La Cruz's sustained excellence on the basepaths. As the report says, he is the first Cincinnati Red and only the eighth player in the Major Leagues since 1900 to record at least 30 steals in each of his first four professional seasons. This puts him in the company of Bobby Witt Jr., who achieved the same mark between 2022 and 2025, signaling that Elly De La Cruz is operating at a generational level of speed.
Furthermore, the 30 home runs recorded by Elly De La Cruz represent the second-highest total ever for a primary shortstop in Cincinnati Reds history. He trails only Barry Larkin, who hit 33 home runs in 1996. This represents a significant jump in power production from the 25 home runs De La Cruz hit during his 2024 season, proving that the shortstop is continuing to evolve his hitting approach.
Overcoming a June Hamstring Injury Amidst a Losing Season
These individual accolades come against a backdrop of collective struggle for the Cincinnati Reds. The 2026 season has been described as disappointing,with the team failing to meet expectations in the standings. For many fans, Elly De La Cruz has served as the primary reason to remain engaged with the team, providing a high-energy performance that masks the Reds' overall difficulties.
The achievement is even more impressive considering the health hurdles Elly De La Cruz faced this year. He missed nearly a full month of action in June due to a hamstring injury, which significantly limited his opportunities to accumulate stats.. Despite this lost time, De La Cruz managed to maintain his lead in several National League categories, showing a resilience that has matured alongside his physical tools.
Beyond the raw numbers, Elly De La Cruz has focused on the technical flaws that plagued his early career. There has been a concerted effort to reduce both fielding errors and strikeouts, transforming him from a high-variance prospect into a more complete, reliable Major League shortstop.
Will De La Cruz's League-Leading OPS Translate to a Team Turnaround?
While the 30/30 milestone is a personal triumph, it raises a critical question: can one superstar elevate a struggling roster? Elly De La Cruz currently ranks first in the league in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, hits, and total bases, while ranking second in home runs and on-base percentage. However, the source notes that the Cincinnati Reds have struggled throughout 2026, suggesting a massive gap between the performance of their star shortstop and the rest of the lineup.
It remains unclear how the Cincinnati Reds front office intends to build around this talent to avoid another losing campaign. While the report details De La Cruz's individual brilliance, it does not provide specifics on the team's broader strategic plan or potential off-season acquisitions. The central mystery for the franchise is whether Elly De La Cruz is a lone bright spot or the foundation of a future championship core.
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