DE LA CRUZ ELECTRIFIES IL

TRIPLE-A

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International League fans got an extended look at Elly De La Cruz before the 21-year-old Reds shortstop ever stepped foot on a major league field.

They saw why De La Cruz was going to become one of the most exciting players the minute he arrived in MLB.

De La Cruz showed off his speed by turning in the fastest home-to-third time (10.97 seconds) of any Triple-A player. He also swiped 11 bags to go with three triples in just 38 games for Louisville.

It was a big hint of how he would quickly turn in the three fastest home-to-third times on triples in the majors after receiving his call-up on June 6.

At Triple-A he hit .298/.398/.633 with 12 home runs, while reining in his strikeout rate to 23% in his final 23 games, compared with 33% in his first 15.

De La Cruz's power also was apparent. As of mid-August, the hardest-hit ball in Triple-A or the majors was his 118.8 mph scorcher of a double on May 9 against Columbus. He also has the hardest-hit home run in Triple-A, a 450-foot blast that traveled at 117.7 mph.

And his arm was just as obvious. De La Cruz had a pair of 99 mph throws on infield assists-one as a shortstop and one as a third baseman-that remain the hardest throws tracked by Statcast on an infield out this season.

De La Cruz has shown 80-grade speed and arm strength-his raw power also has a case for 80-since he arrived in the majors. Triple-A fans can say they got to see it all first. -JJ Cooper