Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz put on a show against the Cubs, launching three home runs in three at-bats. His first came off an 86 mph sinker from Kyle Hendricks in the first inning, a rocket shot that looked like it even hit the cameraman. There was the usual parade of high fives in the dugout, plus a hug from teammate Brian O’Grady, something that’s becoming a post-homer ritual. In the second, Hendricks made the mistake of throwing the same exact pitch, and De La Cruz made him pay again. Another first-pitch homer, another round of celebrations, another hug for O’Grady.
By the time De La Cruz stepped in for his third at-bat, the Cubs had gone to their bullpen. They tried to pitch around him with sliders and high heat, but he caught up to a 97 mph fastball and crushed it into the Cincinnati sunset. That made him the first player in MLB history to hit seven homers in his first 10 games. Teammates couldn’t believe it. Suarez looked stunned, and even the dugout routine seemed locked in now—smiles, helmet off, dugout walk, hugs, and always that one for O’Grady. Everything about the moment was electric, from his laid-back batting stance to his casual dominance at the plate. Cincinnati might have something special with this kid.