Elly De La Cruz continues to establish himself as one of the most electrifying figures in MLB in 2026. The young Cincinnati Reds player is not only standing out for his talent, but he is already beginning to write his name alongside some of the greatest legends in Major League Baseball history.
In a recent 7-2 Reds victory over the Colorado Rockies, De La Cruz turned in a complete game performance: three hits, a home run, two runs scored and two stolen bases in four innings. With that performance, he reached an all-time high that puts him in a unique category.
A start to the season at the level of the best
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Through just the first 30 games of the season, Elly De La Cruz has at least 10 home runs and 8 stolen bases, a combination that only iconic baseball and MLB figures have achieved.
The last Dominican to reach those numbers in that period was Vladimir Guerrero Sr. in 2002.
A season in which he finished with 39 homers and 40 stolen bases, falling one shy of the famous 40-40 club.
But that’s not all. De La Cruz also equaled what Barry Bonds did in 1996.
Who achieved that same combination of power and speed before closing that year with 42 home runs and 40 steals, joining the select group of players who have reached 40-40.
The 40-40 dream is gaining momentum again
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The 40-40 club is one of the most difficult achievements in MLB, requiring an exceptional combination of power and speed.
Throughout history, only a few players have achieved this feat, including names such as José Canseco, Alex Rodríguez, Alfonso Soriano and Ronald Acuña Jr.
More recently, Shohei Ohtani raised the bar in 2024 with a historic season of 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.
It even surpassed the traditional 40-40 and set a new precedent in modern baseball.
Now, in 2026, Elly De La Cruz is emerging as one of the leading candidates to attempt an MLB campaign of that caliber.
His explosiveness in the field, combined with his ability to hit long-range shots, makes him a constant threat to any opponent.
De La Cruz delivered a complete performance
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