De La Cruz hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park in July.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
Elly De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in June.
(John Fisher, Getty Images)
De La Cruz launches a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in May.
(Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
De La Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in April.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park in March.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in July 2025.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at T-Mobile Park in April 2024.
(Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports)
De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning of against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park in April 2024.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz hits a home run during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in 2023.
(Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023. It was the first of his major-league career.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in September.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
Elly De La Cruz heads to second on a stolen base against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Great American Ball Park in September.
(Aaron Doster/IMAGN IMAGES)
De La Cruz steals third base against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park in 2023.
(Thomas Shea, Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)
De La Cruz steals third base in the eighth inning of a game with the Washington Nationals in March 2024.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in 2024.
(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
De La Cruz steals third base as the Phillies' Edmundo Sosa attempts to stop him in 2024.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz steals second base in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in June 2025.
(David Richard-Imagn Images)
De La Cruz steals second base in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.
(Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports)
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in July 2024.
(Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
De La Cruz (44) dives across home plate on a steal attempt in 2024.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz loses his helmet as he dives in safely, stealing third, in 2025.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz steals third base in 2023.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz runs to third base during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2023.
(Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports)
De La Cruz slides into second for a double in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
De La Cruz slides into third base for an RBI triple in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
1/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
3/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park in July.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
4/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
Elly De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in June.
(John Fisher, Getty Images)
5/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz launches a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in May.
(Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)
6/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz (44) follows through on a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in April.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
7/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park in March.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
8/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in July 2025.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
9/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at T-Mobile Park in April 2024.
(Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports)
10/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run in the fifth inning of against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park in April 2024.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
11/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a home run during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in 2023.
(Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
12/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
13/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
14/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
15/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2023. It was the first of his major-league career.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
16/30
Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in September.
(Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
17/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
Elly De La Cruz heads to second on a stolen base against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Great American Ball Park in September.
(Aaron Doster/IMAGN IMAGES)
18/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base against the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park in 2023.
(Thomas Shea, Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)
19/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base in the eighth inning of a game with the Washington Nationals in March 2024.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
20/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in 2024.
(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
21/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base as the Phillies' Edmundo Sosa attempts to stop him in 2024.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
22/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in June 2025.
(David Richard-Imagn Images)
23/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in June 2023.
(Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports)
24/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals second base against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park in July 2024.
(Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
25/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz (44) dives across home plate on a steal attempt in 2024.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
26/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz loses his helmet as he dives in safely, stealing third, in 2025.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
27/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz steals third base in 2023.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)
28/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz runs to third base during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2023.
(Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports)
29/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz slides into second for a double in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
30/30
Photos show Elly De La Cruz's superhuman speed and strength
De La Cruz slides into third base for an RBI triple in the sixth inning between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in September 2025.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)
Even if MLB spring training starts on time, severalCincinnati Redsrecovering from surgical procedures might not be ready.
During an end-of-season meeting with local reporters, Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall and General Manager Brad Meador provided updates on three key players: outfieldersDane MyersandSpencer Steerand relief pitcherTony Santillan. The players availability for spring training remains an open question.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Meador said, "If they're full-go from Day 1? We'll see, but by the season they should be close."
Myers underwent a successful left-shoulder medical procedure, Meador said. Myers crashing into outfield walls was a common sight throughout the 2026 season, and that style of defense took a physical toll.
Meador said the team received a note Sept. 30 that Steer underwent successful surgery after he missed approximately five weeks through the end of the season for a partial tear of the tendon sheath protecting a tendon in his right wrist.
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Dane Myers (17) makes a running, leaping, catch at the wall on a fly ball off the bat of Petey Halpin to end the game in the top of the ninth inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The Reds won the second game of a double header, 2-0.
Santillan's recovery continues following a Sept. 24 surgery to remove a bone protrusion from his left hip, which appears to be at least close to a best-case scenario for his recovery and long-term prognosis.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
In 2026, Reds pitchers and catchers reported to the club's Goodyear, Arizona, complex on Feb. 9. Player availability around that time in 2027 could end up being something of a moot point with labor negotiations looming between the Major League Baseball Players Association and owners.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, and it's widely expected club owners will lock out the players. The lockout could threaten the typical spring training schedule, as well as regular-season games.
Reds officials declined to comment on baseball's labor issues during the Oct. 1 media session at Great American Ball Park.
