Elly De La Cruz Makes History: First Cincinnati Red to Hit Both an Inside-the-Park and Outside-the-Park Home Run in Same Game
By [Barry Cuppa], Sports Correspondent
CINCINNATI — Baseball fans at Great American Ball Park witnessed history on May 24, 2025, as Cincinnati Reds’ phenom Elly De La Cruz delivered a performance for the ages. The 22-year-old shortstop became the first player in the storied history of the Reds franchise to hit both an inside-the-park home run and a traditional outside-the-park homer in the same game.
It was a game that showcased the full arsenal of De La Cruz’s athletic talents — power, speed, and instinct — leaving fans in awe and baseball analysts scrambling for superlatives.
A Night to Remember
The night began with a thunderous crack of the bat in the first inning. Facing Chicago Cubs starter Justin Steele, De La Cruz turned on a fastball and launched it 458 feet into the right-field seats. The ball rocketed off the bat at 114.8 mph, making it the hardest-hit home run by a Reds player since 2019. The crowd erupted as the ball soared out of the park, and De La Cruz rounded the bases with the calm confidence of a star who’s just getting started.
“I knew I got all of it,” De La Cruz said in a postgame interview. “It felt good, but I just wanted to keep helping the team any way I could.”
What happened in the seventh inning, however, transcended expectations.
Speed Meets Precision
With the Reds holding a slim lead, De La Cruz came up to bat against reliever Keegan Thompson. He lined a ball into center field, and Cubs outfielder Sal Frelick misjudged the bounce as the ball skipped past him and rolled toward the wall. In a blur of speed and motion, De La Cruz turned on the jets. Fans rose to their feet as he sprinted around second and flew past third without hesitation.
He slid safely into home plate just under the tag, completing the first inside-the-park home run of his career — and completing a historic two-homer performance that no Reds player had ever achieved.
According to Statcast, De La Cruz circled the bases in just 14.96 seconds, with a peak sprint speed of 30.1 feet per second — one of the fastest times recorded in Major League Baseball this season.
“You just don’t see that combination of raw power and elite speed very often,” said Reds manager David Bell. “Elly is a special player. Tonight just proved again why he’s one of the most electric talents in baseball.”
A Record-Breaking Feat
While inside-the-park home runs are rare in modern baseball, accomplishing both types of home runs in a single game is even rarer. Before De La Cruz’s achievement, only a handful of MLB players had managed to accomplish this feat in the last 50 years — and none while wearing a Cincinnati Reds uniform.
The Reds, founded in 1881, have had Hall of Famers, MVPs, and legends of the game — from Johnny Bench to Pete Rose — but never had one player managed this unique home run combo in a single contest. De La Cruz now stands alone in Reds history.
A Star on the Rise
Since making his debut in 2023, Elly De La Cruz has become a fan favorite in Cincinnati and a focal point of the Reds’ rebuilding efforts. Known for his flashy glove, cannon arm, and effortless speed, he has now added a historic offensive milestone to his resume.
In the 8–5 win over the Cubs, De La Cruz went 3-for-4, drove in two runs, scored four times, and added a stolen base for good measure — a reminder of just how multidimensional his game is.
Teammates and coaches showered him with praise after the game. “He’s got all the tools,” said Reds outfielder TJ Friedl. “You never know what you’re going to see when Elly’s on the field, and that’s what makes him so fun to watch.”
Looking Ahead
The Cincinnati Reds are hoping that this remarkable performance will be a turning point in their season. Currently in a tight NL Central race, the team is relying on its young core — led by De La Cruz — to carry them into the postseason.
As for De La Cruz, he’s not thinking about records or accolades.
“I just want to win,” he said. “That’s the goal every night.”
Still, it’s hard to ignore the gravity of what he accomplished. On a warm May evening in Cincinnati, Elly De La Cruz not only made Reds history — he reminded the baseball world that the future is now.
And it’s wearing No. 44.
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