Reds star Elly De La Cruz omitted from MLB's bold prediction and it could age poorly

By now, it should be common knowledge around baseball that Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is one of the most electrifying players in baseball. He has a power and speed combination that few can match, along with a level of durability that is incredibly uncommon in today's game.

In light of New York Yankees' second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. proclaiming that he's aiming to become the second 50-50 player in MLB history, MLB.com compiled a list of players who could accomplish similarly astonishing feats in 2026. That included a brief list of players under 25 who could hit 50 homers.

The list was small, and just three players made the cut: Nick Kurtz of the Athletics, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, and James Wood of the Washington Nationals. De La Cruz was nowhere to be found.

As they point out in the article, this is a rare feat. Only six players in baseball history have met the criteria. That list includes inner circle Hall of Famers Jimmie Fox, Ralph Kiner, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle. After Mantle blasted 52 homers in 1956, we'd have to wait 51 years for the next player to join the club, with Prince Fielder cracking an even 50 dingers in 2007. Finally, the last entrant on the list was Pete Alonso in 2019.

Reds star Elly De La Cruz's power is being overlooked by MLB.com's bold prediction list

Let's be honest and admit the fact that hitting 50 homers, for anyone, is a massive feat. Other than Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, you can't reasonably expect it from anyone. De La Cruz's teammate, Eugenio Suarez, is one of the most consistent power bats in the game. He holds the record for most homers by an NL third baseman in a single season, rocketing 49 long balls in 2019. He matched that total again last year, once again coming in just shy of 50.

But let's not forget that Elly is a special talent. There's a reason why, during his extension talks, some have wondered aloud if he could become the league's first billion-dollar player. The chances of him actually landing such a contract are slim, just like the chances he hits 50 taters this season, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

De La Cruz is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. He just turned 24 in January. He's also in a position now, with Suarez batting behind him, where he'll have a level of protection that he's never come close to experiencing during his young career.

All of these factors coming together could be the catalyst for him having a huge year, and while 50 homers is a lofty bar to clear, it's not out of the realm of possibility for him. We just might find at season's end that his absence from the list was a glaring omission.