When you’re surveying the baseball panorama for video games to look at, I’ve a fairly good concept of how the method ought to go for tonight. In case your favourite crew is taking part in properly, you’re most likely going to look at them first. Apart from that, should you’re going to concentrate to any baseball recreation that doesn’t contain your favourite crew for the following couple of days then your eyes must be locked in for what’s happening 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 seem to be a lot to jot down residence 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 whole of two video games in these appearances whereas the Pittsburgh Pirates solely made it three years in a row from 2013 by 2015 and likewise received a grand whole of two playoff video games throughout that span. There hasn’t been a lot of a cause to concentrate to those two golf equipment they usually 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 received two excellent causes to tune in to this sequence: Elly De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz. Considered one of my favourite issues about baseball is that regardless of the on a regular basis nature of the game, there’s all the time an opportunity that should you tune in or go to the ballpark then you definitely’re going to see one thing that you simply’ve by no means seen earlier than. It’s true for any recreation, it’s very true when any one among De La Cruz or Cruz is taking part in within the recreation and it solely doubles when each of them are going to be sharing the identical discipline for no less than two-and-a-half hours for the following couple of nights.
Whereas Elly’s exploits on the diamond have been extensively 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 the case of the Pirates. In spite of everything, Bryan Reynolds remains to be the face of the franchise over there, Andrew McCutchen has returned to put on the one uniform that he’s regarded 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 totally price being attentive to as a result of his spotlight reel consists of stuff that’s scarcely plausible at instances. That is the man who presently holds the report for the hardest-hit ball within the Statcast Period of MLB at 122.4 mph and used to carry the report for the toughest throw from an infielder through the Statcast Period with a 97.8 mph laser that he uncorked as a rookie again in 2022. His arm power is within the 99th percentile. His bat pace is within the one 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 pace, his 87th-percentile Dash Velocity appears to point that he nonetheless blaze throughout the basepaths if wanted.
Cruz remains to be within the technique of placing all of those sides collectively with a view to turn into a very nice baseball participant however his potential is true there for everyone to see. It’s very tough to determine who has a better ceiling than than Cruz and it’s one among many the reason why he doesn’t simply have Pirates followers enthusiastic about any progress that he could make. If Oneil Cruz can understand 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 all the time dreamed of in some way changing into a bodily power of nature who may run just like the wind, throw more durable than some pitchers and hit dingers practically 500 toes whereas mainly leaving a mark on every thing else he hits. The distinction between aspirational video avid gamers and Oneil Cruz is that he has the actual and tangible probability to really turn into what was all the time figured to be a digital wild dream for many followers.
Talking of gamers who’ve ceilings which might be increased than the Empire State Constructing, that’s the place Elly De La Cruz got here in. Whereas there’s debate as as to whether or not Oneil Cruz is the highest star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, there’s no debate in the case of the scenario in Cincinnati. Elly De La Cruz is the man round there — whether or not we’re speaking identify recognition, highlights or manufacturing, Elly has received 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 residence runs? He’s received em. You need Net Gems that might’ve made him a staple on Baseball Tonight? He’s received these, too. You wish to see him tear up the basepaths? He’s received you on that as properly. You wish to see him do all of it within the technique of terrorizing the Dodgers? It’s humorous you need to ask as a result of there’s video proof of that as properly.
What makes it so gratifying to look at 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 changing into this sort of participant. Nonetheless, similar to Oneil Cruz proper now, it was additionally evident that he nonetheless wanted to place all of it collectively. In spite of everything, you are able to do loads of wonderful issues on the sector but it surely 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 crew main fWAR of three.3 can be proof that he hasn’t sacrificed another portion of his recreation with a view to enhance in one other aspect.
He’s nonetheless stealing bases at an absurd clip — he’s already surpassed his stolen base whole of 35 final season, he’s presently sitting on 37 stolen luggage and the sky is the restrict in the case of how excessive that quantity can get. His protection has additionally improved as he’s now not merely leaning on his prodigious arm power. He’s presently in ninety fifth percentile of fielders with an OAA of 6. He’s steadily turning into an entire baseball participant, which must be thrilling for each Reds followers in the case of doubtlessly 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 irrespective of if he’s hitting, fielding or operating the bases. Stuff that was figured to be inconceivable previously is simply a part of one other day on the ballpark for Elly De La Cruz.
Elly De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz is probably not 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 look at. Whereas Oneil Cruz remains to be within the technique of displaying 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 can be on the identical discipline this week when the Pirates and Reds face off with one another in Cincinnati. Whereas these two groups could not command your consideration, these two gamers definitely ought to.
