De La Cruz Shines as Reds Win Series vs Tigers

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz delivered standout performances in a weekend series against the Detroit Tigers, including a 98.3 mph relay throw and home runs in four consecutive games. On Saturday, his 110 mph homer contributed to an 11-1 Reds victory, and on Sunday, he hit another home run, bringing his season total to 16. De La Cruz's achievements came while playing through the recent loss of his sister, earning him admiration for his resilience. The Tigers, who entered with MLB's best record, committed key defensive errors that helped the Reds rally for an 8-4 win in the series finale. De La Cruz's June stats include a .350 batting average, .469 on-base percentage, and 1.219 OPS. Reds manager Terry Francona and others believe De La Cruz has significant untapped potential.