For the first time in his career, Elly De La Cruz is on the injured list, and it seems he’s just as fast in recovery as he is on the base paths. The Cincinnati Reds’ medical staff, according to Cincinnati Enquirer beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer, has moved up the shortstop’s timeline by three days, shifting his MRI to Friday. Still, hamstring strains can be unpredictable, and the Reds should move with caution concerning their superstar.
Even MLB’s official website acknowledges the variability in recovery of hamstring strains, noting that players may take days to weeks to return to play. De La Cruz’s injury is somewhere between a Grade 1 (the least severe) and a Grade 2 (a moderate strain).
The Astros’ Jeremy Peña sustained a Grade 1 strain in April and missed more than a month of the season; conversely, Ronald Acuña Jr. was out for just two weeks with the same injury. Clearly, each player recovers at his own pace.
Reds receive encouraging news about Elly De La Cruz’s recovery, but must be cautious
Given that De La Cruz has been known to push himself through injury, even to the detriment of his own abilities on the field, the Reds should exercise restraint in pushing the star along his recovery process.
Yes, De La Cruz is young and relatively injury free, but an incomplete recovery could hurt the team more than having him on the IL. When he tried to play through a quad injury during the second half of last season, his OPS plummeted nearly 200 points.
De La Cruz is by far the Reds’ most valuable offensive weapon. He has led the team in bWAR in each of the past three seasons including 2026. But he is also a long-term investment for the club. Each time he pivots at shortstop, breaks into a sprint to swipe a bag, or gears up for a powerful swing, he risks re-aggravating his hamstring. Such is the nature of the injury.
De La Cruz is invaluable for the Reds’ postseason push this year, but even more so, he represents the future of the franchise. Just look at Luis Robert Jr. A cycle of injuries can quickly transform a rising talent into an albatross.
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