Elly De La Cruz & Barry Bonds? Reds rookie continues to make MLB history

Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz (44) celebrates after scoring as TJ Friedl grounded out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Just when it looks as if there are no more superlatives to describe what Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz has accomplished in his rookie season, another point of comparison is made which puts into context his ascension into baseball stardom.

De La Cruz went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and a stolen base in the second game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. That gave him after 58 career games 10 home runs and 15 stolen bases.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, the only player to debut since 1900 and get there faster was Barry Bonds (57 games).

Bonds did that in 1986, finishing with a .223 average, 16 home runs, 48 RBI and 36 stolen bases in 113 games. He struck out 102 times in 484 at bats. Bonds was 6th in NL Rookie of the Year voting, with former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin tying for 7th place.

In 1990 Bonds became a member of the 30-30 club with 33 homers and 52 stolen bases. He accomplished the feat again in 1992, ’95, ’96 and ’97.

The 21-year-old De La Cruz is hitting .264 with those 10 homers, 26 RBI and 18 stolen bases. However, he’s struck out 89 times in 257 trips to the plate, and had struck out in 18 straight games prior to snapping that streak in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader.

Earlier this season De La Cruz became the first Reds player since Eric Davis in 1989 to hit for the cycle.