In case you’re surveying the baseball panorama for video games to observe, I’ve a fairly good thought of how the method ought to go for tonight. In case your favourite staff is taking part in properly, you’re most likely going to observe them first. Apart from that, should you’re going to concentrate to any baseball sport that doesn’t contain your favourite staff for the following couple of days then your eyes ought to be locked in for what’s occurring in Cincinnati this week.
At first look, a matchup between two 37-41 groups in what’s collectively essentially the most mediocre division in baseball doesn’t appear to be a lot to write down dwelling about. It’s particularly the case when you think about that the Cincinnati Reds have solely been to the Postseason 4 instances since 2010 and received a grand complete of two video games in these appearances whereas the Pittsburgh Pirates solely made it three years in a row from 2013 via 2015 and likewise received a grand complete of two playoff video games throughout that span. There hasn’t been a lot of a cause to concentrate to those two golf equipment and so they haven’t actually given anyone an actual cause to concentrate to them exterior of the occasional insane-looking brawl.
That modifications this week, as we’ve now obtained two superb causes to tune in to this collection: Elly De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz. One in every of my favourite issues about baseball is that regardless of the on a regular basis nature of the game, there’s at all times an opportunity that should you tune in or go to the ballpark then you definately’re going to see one thing that you simply’ve by no means seen earlier than. It’s true for any sport, it’s very true when any certainly one of De La Cruz or Cruz is taking part in within the sport and it solely doubles when each of them are going to be sharing the identical subject for at the very least two-and-a-half hours for the following couple of nights.
Whereas Elly’s exploits on the diamond have been broadly documented proper right here on SB Nation, it’s considerably comprehensible that Oneil Cruz’s motion has sort of gotten misplaced within the shuffle in relation to the Pirates. In any case, Bryan Reynolds continues to be the face of the franchise over there, Andrew McCutchen has returned to put on the one uniform that he’s appeared fully proper in (exterior of possibly these throwback Phillies uniforms) and Paul Skenes has exploded onto the MLB scene and has rapidly established himself as a power to be reckoned with on the mound. Whereas this hasn’t translated to the Pirates profitable ballgames frequently, it’s not fully boring to maintain up with the Pirates these days.
Nonetheless, Oneil Cruz is completely value listening to as a result of his spotlight reel consists of stuff that’s scarcely plausible at instances. That is the man who at present holds the document for the hardest-hit ball within the Statcast Period of MLB at 122.4 mph and used to carry the document for the toughest throw from an infielder throughout the Statcast Period with a 97.8 mph laser that he uncorked as a rookie again in 2022. His arm energy is within the 99th percentile. His bat velocity is within the a hundredth percentile, which naturally signifies that his Common Exit Velocity can be comically excessive, his Barrel share is simply as lofty and his Arduous-Hit share is in the identical neighborhood. Whereas he’s not up there with the actual burners by way of foot velocity, his 87th-percentile Dash Velocity appears to point that he nonetheless blaze throughout the basepaths if wanted.
Cruz continues to be within the technique of placing all of those aspects collectively to be able to change into a really nice baseball participant however his potential is true there for everyone to see. It’s very tough to determine who has the next ceiling than than Cruz and it’s certainly one of many the explanation why he doesn’t simply have Pirates followers enthusiastic about any progress that he could make. If Oneil Cruz can notice his full potential in some unspecified time in the future, it’ll be primarily as if a totally maxed-out create-a-player from the video video games has come to life.
Hundreds of thousands of baseball followers have at all times dreamed of in some way turning into a bodily power of nature who may run just like the wind, throw tougher than some pitchers and hit dingers practically 500 toes whereas mainly leaving a mark on every part else he hits. The distinction between aspirational video avid gamers and Oneil Cruz is that he has the actual and tangible likelihood to really change into what was at all times figured to be a digital wild dream for many followers.
Talking of gamers who’ve ceilings which are larger than the Empire State Constructing, that’s the place Elly De La Cruz got here in. Whereas there’s debate as as to if or not Oneil Cruz is the highest star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, there’s no debate in relation to the state of affairs in Cincinnati. Elly De La Cruz is the man round there — whether or not we’re speaking title recognition, highlights or manufacturing, Elly has obtained all of it in spades.
As I alluded to within the aforementioned hyperlinks to different articles about Elly De La Cruz, the man simply seems to be a sentient spotlight reel. You need tape-measure dwelling runs? He’s obtained em. You need Internet Gems that might’ve made him a staple on Baseball Tonight? He’s obtained these, too. You need to see him tear up the basepaths? He’s obtained you on that as properly. You need to see him do all of it within the technique of terrorizing the Dodgers? It’s humorous you must ask as a result of there’s video proof of that as properly.
What makes it so gratifying to observe Elly De La Cruz do the issues that he does on a nightly foundation is that it was plainly apparent from the second that he confirmed up in Main League Baseball that he was able to turning into any such participant. Nonetheless, similar to Oneil Cruz proper now, it was additionally evident that he nonetheless wanted to place all of it collectively. In any case, you are able to do loads of wonderful issues on the sphere nevertheless it received’t significantly matter all that a lot should you’re hitting .235/.300/.410 with a .305 wOBA and solely 89 wRC+, which is what he completed with in 2023 after taking part in 98 video games. Heading into motion on June 25, De La Cruz is now hitting .249/.342/.464 with a .352 wOBA and a wRC+ of 123. It’s clicking for him even when he’s not doing something spectacular and his staff main fWAR of three.3 can be proof that he hasn’t sacrificed some other portion of his sport to be able to enhance in one other side.
He’s nonetheless stealing bases at an absurd clip — he’s already surpassed his stolen base complete of 35 final season, he’s at present sitting on 37 stolen luggage and the sky is the restrict in relation to how excessive that quantity can get. His protection has additionally improved as he’s not merely leaning on his prodigious arm energy. He’s at present in ninety fifth percentile of fielders with an OAA of 6. He’s steadily turning into a whole baseball participant, which ought to be thrilling for each Reds followers in relation to probably turning the ship round in Cincinnati and it’s additionally thrilling for us impartial followers since that simply means he’s able to doing one thing actually absurd regardless of if he’s hitting, fielding or operating the bases. Stuff that was figured to be unattainable prior to now is simply a part of one other day on the ballpark for Elly De La Cruz.
Elly De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz might not be miracle staff who can drag their respective groups to the promised land however they’re each doing greater than their justifiable share of the work in making their respective groups enjoyable to observe. Whereas Oneil Cruz continues to be within the technique of exhibiting fast glimpses of his potential, we’re beginning to see Elly De La Cruz totally blossom right into a real-deal celebrity in baseball. Each of them will likely be on the identical subject this week when the Pirates and Reds face off with one another in Cincinnati. Whereas these two groups might not command your consideration, these two gamers definitely ought to.
