Reds News: Elly De La Cruz named MLB The Show cover athlete, Cincy signs MiLB catcher

Video games are quite popular nowadays, and while not every Cincinnati Reds fan finds joy with a controller in their hands, there are a great number who do. MLB The Show is easily the most popular baseball video game on the market today, and every year there's widespread speculation as to who the cover athlete might be.

Reds phenom Elly De La Cruz let the cat out of the bag with an announcement on his Instagram feed that he'll be on the cover of MLB The Show 25. This is a tremendous honor and shows the impact that the young Reds star has heading into just his second full season in the big leagues.

Reds News: Elly De La Cruz named MLB The Show cover athlete

Full disclosure, I haven't played video games in decades, but seeing De La Cruz named as MLB The Show's cover athlete is kinda cool, and I'm sure the younger generation of Reds fans will enjoy every minute of it.

It's also rather unsurprising if you think about it. De La Cruz was one the most electric players on the field in 2024, so it shouldn't come as shock to find him on the cover of the one most popular sports video games. With his speed and power combination, De La Cruz was a highlight reel waiting to happen every time he stepped onto the diamond.

Reds fans are hoping for more of the same in 2025, and unlike the cover of Madden, the Cincinnati faithful do not have to worry about any so-called jinx. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was on the cover of MLB The Show 24 and he went on to smash 30 home runs, post a 166 OPS+, and go to his fourth consecutive All-Star Game.

Guerrero is currently locked in some tense negotiations with the Toronto Blue Jays in regards to a potential contract extension, and Reds fans would be oh-so happy to hear that Cincinnati was discussing a long-term deal with their budding star. But that seems like a pipe dream at the moment.

Reds News: Cincy signs MiLB catcher Andy Yerzy

According to the Louisville Bats transactions page, the Reds have signed catcher Andy Yerzy to a minor-league contract and he's been assigned to Triple-A. One can assume that Yerzy will receive a non-roster invite to spring training after spending last season with the Biloxi Shockers.

Yerzy is no stranger to the Reds organization after spending part the 2023 season with the Bats and Chattanooga Lookouts. The backstop was a second-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016 and has yet to play in a major league game.

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