The Thrilling Rise of Elly De La Cruz: A Testament to Immigrant Talent

The drive behind a one-of-a-kind Reds prospect: Meet 6-foot-5 shortstop Elly De La Cruz

From Humble Beginnings in the Dominican Republic to MLB Stardom

Elly De La Cruz: A Testament to Immigrant Talent

Some view immigrants as job “takers.” They want to watch Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz. He is proof that some people have unique skill sets that employers value. The Dominican-born Elly debuted in 2023. Within a month, people were calling him “the most thrilling man in baseball.” A video showed he stealing second base. Then he stole third base. Finally, he stole home plate against the Milwaukee Brewers. This video circulated widely. It became popular online. He accomplished this feat in just 30 seconds. It became a sensation.

Discovering Talent
Talent can emerge from unexpected places. In 2023, the Cincinnati Reds and their scouts claim they knew all along. They recognized Elly De La Cruz’s once-in-a-generation potential. But, as the story goes, sometimes talent is discovered by being in the right place at the right time.

“He caught our attention, and we were lucky to get him,” said Enmanuel Cartagena, now the Reds’ director of Caribbean scouting.

De La Cruz played at the Niche Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo. Cartagena and Richard Jimenez discovered him there. Their original goal? To scout another highly regarded shortstop. They had a conversation with Cristian “Niche” Batista, a prominent trainer in the Dominican Republic. After this discussion, their focus shifted to De La Cruz.

“He said, ‘I have this kid over here.’ He was a little bit underdeveloped at that particular moment,” Cartagena recalled. “He didn’t have those loud tools like some other kids had. But we saw him, and he caught our eye.”

From Skinny Prospect to Dominant Player
At 16 years old, De La Cruz stood six feet tall. Yet, he lacked the build of his peers.

“He was smooth, and he made it look easy, but he wasn’t physically dominating because he was really skinny,” Batista explained. “He knew the game, though, and he had lots of heart.”

The Reds saw potential in De La Cruz’s fluid style and raw competitiveness. And while financial penalties from earlier signings limited their budget, it worked in their favor. De La Cruz signed for just $65,000 in 2018—a steal, as Cartagena later described it.

Elly De La Cruz Finds Out He’s An All-Star

A Humble Star with Unmatched Confidence
De La Cruz was once part of the Reds’ Dominican academy. He impressed everyone with his maturity. He also demonstrated humility.

“He was just a dream for how mature he was, even at that age,” Cartagena said. “Even though he was smaller and weaker and didn’t have the strength of his peers, he was confident within himself. I think he knew the player he was going to become.”

Fast advance to his 2023 Major League call-up, and De La Cruz expressed gratitude for the journey that shaped him.

“You look back at it sometimes and think, ‘Wow, those are the opportunities that God gave me, and it got myself up here today,’” he reflected.

Elly De La Cruz’s story is more than a testament to scouting or skill development. It highlights the immense value immigrants bring when given opportunities. De La Cruz started as a skinny teenager in the Dominican Republic. He became one of baseball’s brightest stars. He proves that unique talents can shine when nurtured. He also shows that some jobs are created, not taken.

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