This shocking stat has Elly De La Cruz grounded and Reds hopeful for a turnaround

The Cincinnati Reds entered the 2025 season with high expectations for Elly De La Cruz. After bursting onto the scene in 2023, he has continued to look every bit like the face of the franchise. But while his potential remains limitless, one concerning trend has quietly grounded him — literally.

Through the first month and a half of the season, De La Cruz owns a staggering 58.3% groundball rate, one of the highest marks in all of Major League Baseball. To put that into perspective, the league average sits at 44.5%, meaning De La Cruz is smashing the ball into the dirt far more than his peers. It’s a startling trend for a player whose offensive value is built on his ability to do damage when he elevates the baseball.

Even more alarming is the dramatic dip in his line drive rate, which has plummeted to 14.8%, a significant drop from 23.3% in 2024. Line drives are often a hitter’s best friend — producing the most consistent results in terms of extra-base hits and batting average. De La Cruz’s struggles to lift the ball have turned many of his plate appearances into routine groundouts, neutralizing his impact.

Could Elly De La Cruz’s recent power surge with the Reds signal a long-awaited turnaround?

What makes this even more perplexing is that he’s actually striking out less this season, showing improvement in making contact. Unfortunately, that additional contact hasn’t been of quality. While fans may have hoped fewer strikeouts would lead to a more productive version of De La Cruz, it has instead resulted in a different kind of frustration.

Yet, despite the concerning groundball trend, there are new signs of life. De La Cruz has homered in three of his last five games, ending a three-week-long home run drought that had only intensified concerns about his offensive slide. His recent power surge provides the Reds and their fanbase with a much-needed shot of optimism.

De La Cruz remains one of the game’s most dynamic talents. If he can begin to correct his launch angle and turn more of that improved contact into line drives or fly balls, the production could quickly turn around. 

But for now, the Reds can only hope that this recent power display is the start of something bigger. A sign that Elly De La Cruz is ready to lift not just the ball, but the Reds' offense along with it.

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