5 Reds players who are putting up eye-catching numbers this spring

Spring training is nearing its end, which means Opening Day is just around the corner. Though most of the players who've made the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster have been told, there are still a handful of spots up for grabs.

Spring stats need to be taken with a grain of salt, but it can be the difference between a player making the cut or being sent to the unemployment line. Let's face it, if Josh Harrison was hitting .350, he'd probably be on the Reds Opening Day roster. Instead, Harrison exercised his opt-out and is trying to latch on with a new team.

So while some of the numbers being put up during Cactus League play can be seen as a bit of a mirage, they can still give managers and coaches indications about what's to come during the regular season. Here are some eye-popping stats from Reds spring training.

Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds in hits, but also in Ks

It's going to be an interesting season for Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. After getting his feet wet in the major leagues last season, De La Cruz enters 2024 with increased expectations. De La Cruz has unmatched physical gifts, and if he can harness them, the Reds infielder could easily be in the MVP conversation. He's that good.

De La Cruz leads the Reds this spring with 11 hits. The 22-year-old set the baseball world on fire with this blazing-fast speed and unmitigated power. Of De La Cruz's 11 base knocks, five have gone for extra-bases.

But De La Cruz's old friend has come with him this spring as well. Last year's rookie also leads the Reds in strikeouts with 14 Ks this spring. That's a little more than one per game, and something that Reds fans hope to see De La Cruz iron out as the season goes along.

However, strikeouts are likely to always be a part of De La Cruz's game. And when he's got a .333 batting average and .421 on-base percentage, those strikeouts become much easier to ignore.