Elly De La Cruz's Superman-catch highlights Reds fans' tough but fair criticism

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is one of the most electrifying players in all of Major League Baseball. His combination of speed and power may be second to none, and De La Cruz plays the game with an undeniable flare and childlike enthusiasm that has endeared him to the Reds fanbase—well, most of them.

There's a small contingent of Reds fans who always find a way to grumble about De La Cruz regardless of how brilliant his exploits may be. The shortstop's highlight catch on Sunday in Baltimore brought that discourse to light once again.

De La Cruz's outstanding Superman-like catch during the bottom of the second inning of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles was indicative of the raw talent that only he possesses. A line drive off the bat of Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday was snared by De La Cruz as he ranged to his left and leapt into the air in order to make a run-saving grab. It was a catch that perhaps only one shortstop in the entire league could make, and he happens to play for the Reds.

Elly De La Cruz's Superman-catch highlights Reds fans' tough but fair criticism

But De La Cruz's critics will undoubtedly point to the fact that while he can make that circus-type of grab, converting a routine ground ball to shortstop may cause him some consternation. De La Cruz led MLB in errors last season, and his six fielding mistakes have him on track to do so once again in 2025. This has been a constant critique from De La Cruz's detractors, and while some Reds fans may want those critics to just be quiet, there is some truth in their analysis.

De La Cruz's failure to make the routine play was on full-display during last week's series against the Seattle Mariners. The Reds shortstop made three errors in two games, and two of his miscues came during Cincinnati's extra-innings loss last Thursday (one of which allowed Seattle to scratch across an extra run in the 10th inning).

But while those fault-finders may have legitimate beef with De La Cruz from time to time (and want to see him moved to the outfield), the majority of Cincinnati's fanbase will happily take the good with the bad—mainly because the good borders on the fantastic, while the bad is nothing more than a mild irritation in the grand scheme of things.

It can't be stated enough that De La Cruz is still just 23 years old and only beginning to scratch the surface of his true potential. De La Cruz will inevitably boot another routine grounder to shortstop in the coming weeks, but he's also bound to make another outstanding defensive play that will have fans' jaws hit the floor. Like it or not, that's the way De La Cruz plays the game, and most Reds fans wouldn't have it any other way.

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