But the lineup was a recurring problem in the regular season, the biggest reason Cincy needed a late-summer collapse by the Mets in order to play October baseball. He’s never going to be an ultra-scientific hitter, and a mediocre contact rate prevents him from hitting for impressive batting averages, but a shortstop who’s capable of a 30/30 season and can more than handle the position defensively is going to hard-pressed not to be a star. Those injuries may not have been severe enough to merit an IL stint, but given his size and the fact that he’s got a lot of aging to come, I think De La Cruz’s speed and defense might go quickly if he ever suffers a more serious leg injury.
Author: Dan Szymborski
Published at: 2025-11-18 23:17:33
Still want to read the full version? Full article
