Elly De La Cruz turns up the heat during offseason batting practice as Reds star hits mesmerizing home run

Without question, one of the most exciting players in the MLB right now is Elly De La Cruz. The electrifying shortstop of the Cincinnati Reds has dazzled fans and colleagues across baseball thanks to his combination of power and speed. A first-time All-Star in 2024, the sky appears to be the limit for the 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic.

Even though he has all the tools to become a future MVP, De La Cruz has some holes in his game that he will need to improve upon. His No. 1 weakness is his plate discipline as he led the entire MLB with 218 strikeouts. Nevertheless, it appears that he has not taken a break from working on his game even in the offseason.

Elly De La Cruz launches home run in offseason batting practice (Photo Source: IMAGN / @la_cocoa_____18 IG)

The ultra-talented Cincinnati Reds infielder made an appearance clobbering a home run in Instagram stories across social media.

If the video is any sign of things to come this season, De La Cruz should find himself in National League MVP conversations. While there's a good chance that a healthy (or semi-healthy) Shohei Ohtani will be the player to beat, the Cincinnati Reds superstar may not be far behind.

Despite leading the MLB in strikeouts in 2024, Elly was a force to be reckoned with. Through 160 games, De La Cruz posted a .259 batting average with 25 home runs, 76 RBIs and an MLB-leading 67 stolen bases. If he can continue to work on his plate discipline, it might not be long before both he and the Reds find themselves in World Series contention.

Elly De La Cruz has also found himself becoming one of the hottest names in the collectibles game

Not only is Elly De La Cruz one of the most exciting names to watch on the baseball field, but he is one of the most sought-after names when it comes to card collecting. While Pittsburgh Pirates ace and rookie sensation Paul Skenes might be the No. 1 collectible right now, De La Cruz is right behind him.

Earlier this year, an ultra-rare version of his baseball card sold for $116,534 at auction, and that is before he makes his potential MVP-level turn. Like the player himself, his card values seemingly have no limit to how high they could reach. Like his home run in the Instagram story, all things are pointing up.