Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz is known for crushing baseball’s out of the ballpark but on this occasion it was his media conference he crushed. The infielders shocked the public when he went through an entire press conference speaking English. This was the first time the young Dominican addressed the press without an interpreter and it is safe to say he did an exceptional job.
“It’s so important to me because now you guys understand what I say. It’s important to the fans to understand me, and me understand the fans. I put a lot of work into my English to talk with you guys and I think I’m doing a good job,” said De La Cruz. “I practice every day talking with the older guys.”
Elly De La Cruz did his entire press conference in English, for the first time today.
“It’s important for the fans to understand me, and me understand the fans.”pic.twitter.com/IQOo4IIWwB
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 28, 2024
De La Cruz was born in the Dominican Republic and only moved to the United States in 2019 when he made his first minor league appearance. Since then he has gradually worked his way up the Reds farm system.
Last season, De La Cruz exploded onto the scene with a breakout year filled with highlight after highlight. The 22-year-old’s speed made him a threat at any point of the game with opposing teams constantly aware of his ability to move along the bases. He finished the year slashing .235/.301/.410 and recorded an impressive 13 home runs and 44 RBIs over just 98 games.
The Cincinnati Reds finished the 2023 season with a respectable 82-80 record, but with Del Cruz set to return, alongside star talent like Jonathan India and Hunter Greene, Cincinnati could be a dark horse for the NL Central.
