With the Cincinnati Reds deep in the NL Wild Card race, the pressure is mounting—and so are the lineup changes. One of the most notable adjustments came when manager Terry Francona moved star shortstop Elly De La Cruz to seventh in the batting order. The 23-year-old, known for his electrifying play, has been slumping recently, hitting just .188 over the past 20 games.
Despite a strong overall season—posting 19 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases through 150 games—De La Cruz’s struggles at the plate led Francona to shake things up to relieve some of the pressure.
The Reds currently trail the Arizona Diamondbacks by half a game and are 1.5 games behind the New York Mets, who hold the final Wild Card spot. Every decision counts in this tight race.
After a crucial 11-run victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, De La Cruz addressed the lineup move in a postgame quote shared by FOX19’s Charlie Goldsmith:
> “There’s no pressure. I’m just not doing really good right now. (Francona) is doing what’s best for the team (by hitting him seventh).”
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> “We’ve got to win.”
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> “I’m good.”
The comments reflect a level of maturity and accountability rarely seen in players his age—no excuses, just a focus on the team and the bigger goal. Even with the cold bat, De La Cruz managed to reach base three times in the game, showing he can still make an impact.
With only about a dozen games left in the regular season, every player’s contribution is crucial. Francona’s tough decisions and De La Cruz’s willingness to embrace them could be exactly what the Reds need to secure a playoff spot.