Disrespectful MLB Network rankings will fuel Reds' star Elly De La Cruz in 2025

Even after landing on the cover of MLB The Show 25, Elly De La Cruz may be a bit underrated heading into the upcoming season. Beginning each year, various media outlets produce their version of the top 100 players in Major League Baseball. On Tuesday evening, MLB Network revealed that De La Cruz landed at No. 31.

One offseason removed from a 25 home run and 67 stolen base season, De La Cruz is widely considered to be one of the best shortstops in baseball. Players like Julio Rodriguez, who's coming off a down-year by his standards, and Gerrit Cole, who only pitched in 17 games, both ranked higer than De La Cruz.

Did MLB Network snub Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz?

Objectively, De La Cruz had a significantly better year than Rodriguez last season. The Seattle Mariners outfielder wasn't named to the 2024 All-Star Game, and produced a 4.3 bWAR. Compared that to De La Cruz's 5.2 bWAR, and you can see why the decision is questionable.

De La Cruz also bested J-Rod in home runs, RBI, stolen bases, doubles, triples, and the list goes on and on. Given the vast contrast in many statistical categories, it's hard to imagine what the creators of this list were thinking.

Cole is, no doubt, one of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball over the last half decade, but certainly had an underwhelming 2024 season. After missing the first half of the year, the right-hander produced a meager 2.0 bWAR and posted a 3.41 ERA in less than 100 innings pitched. This was Cole's worst statistical season since his last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2017).

Though De La Cruz should have been ranked higher on this year's edition of MLB Network's Top 100, Reds fans shouldn't be too upset. De La Cruz barely made the cut in 2023, but after a breakout campaign in 2024 this year ranked higher than Mike Trout, Corbin Carrol, Blake Snell, and Trea Turner. So this wasn't an egregious misstep by the network.

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