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The 2026 Major League Baseball regular season has officially concluded. While the sport's official awards will not be announced until after the World Series, outlets such as Baseball America have started revealing their annual honors.
Unsurprisingly, Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz received recognition, as Baseball America selected him for its first-team All-Star squad. The publication chooses one player per position, including a designated hitter, along with five starting pitchers and one reliever, and also names a first and second team for the season.
De La Cruz, who spent three weeks on the Injured List in June, still did enough to secure a first-team spot. Baseball America highlighted his achievements: "He was the 53rd player ever to join the 30-30 club and the eighth shortstop to achieve it, joining a list that includes former Reds star and Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. De La Cruz topped all shortstops with a .515 slugging percentage and 139 wRC+ while reaching new career bests with a .283 average and 79 walks." The outlet also noted, "Vastly improved production as a right-handed batter was one key to the switch-hitters breakout season."
That improvement was especially evident against left-handed pitching. In 2025, De La Cruz managed a .236 average with five home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .618 OPS. In 2026, those numbers jumped to a .325 average, 10 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .990 OPS—a remarkable leap.
Overall, the 24-year-old enjoyed a career year. He set personal bests in home runs (30), batting average (.283), on-base percentage (.365), slugging percentage (.515), and OPS (.880). His 72 walks were also a career high, and he accomplished all this in only 143 games—his fewest since his rookie season in 2023.
Beyond traditional stats, De La Cruz excelled in advanced metrics as well. His bat speed reached a career-best 76.2 MPH, while his average exit velocity (94.7 MPH), barrel percentage (16.3%), hard-hit ball percentage (53.7%), walk rate (11.3%), and in-zone contact rate all represented personal bests.
Key Analysis
At just 24 years old, De La Cruz is far from reaching his peak, suggesting that even greater performances could lie ahead. His combination of power, speed, and improved plate discipline makes him one of the most exciting young talents in baseball, and his 2026 campaign solidifies his status as a cornerstone for the Reds.