Ellie de la Cruz He led the league in errors the past two seasons, but the Reds intend to keep him at shortstop, at least for now. President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall sat down with MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon for an article on Cincinnati’s top prospects. Has shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo While knocking on the major league door, Kral was asked if there were any plans to move De La Cruz from the position. “As of now, no,” Kral told Sheldon.
After committing 29 turnovers in 2024, De La Cruz committed 26 turnovers last season. He’s committed at least three fewer turnovers than the next-closest defender in each of the past two seasons. Durability plays a role here. De La Cruz has been extremely healthy in his first two full seasons in the majors, appearing in at least 160 games both times. More games means more opportunities to play, although De La Cruz also struggled in the opportunities department. In 2025, he ranked third among eligible players in fielding percentage.
De La Cruz has tantalizing tools at the position. In 2025, his average throwing velocity was 92.2 mph, which ranked in the 93rd percentile. De La Cruz excelled at range last season, with StatCast counting him with 14 shutouts above average. Last year, however, that number plummeted to -3.
Midfielder is rumored to be a future destination for De La Cruz. It’s a path many struggling infielders have taken over the years O’Neill Cruz As a recent noteworthy example. Cruz ranked second last season with 26 turnovers. While some of those errors occurred in the outfield, 24 of those errors were shortstop errors. Pittsburgh selects solid option by moving Cruz to outfield full-time in 2025 Isaiah Keener-Falefa At shortstop.
While Arroyo may not be an immediate MLB option, Cincinnati already has an alternative on the major league roster. Matt McLean When he debuted in 2023, he made 52 starts at the position. Noelvi MarteWhen he first joined the Reds, he played shortstop and played in a few games. Santiago Espinal Has plenty of experience at center, but he’ll likely be in a utility role. Cincinnati now has CoBryan Hayes With third base supporting the left side of the infield, this should allow for some flexibility in the shortstop’s decisions.
No matter where he plays, De La Cruz’s bat will be in the starting lineup. He has been the team’s offensive engine over the past two seasons, hitting 20 home runs and scoring over 100 runs two years in a row. De La Cruz has stolen at least 35 bases in all three seasons in the MLB, including a league-leading 67 in 2024. De La Cruz has lowered his strikeout rate every year in his career. He hit a career-high .264 last season.
Despite De La Cruz’s poor performance, Cincinnati ranked only 11th in turnovers last season. Their fielding rating ranks 21st. A full season with Hayes should improve those scores.
