Reds Announce Elly De La Cruz Return Date
The Cincinnati Reds are finally getting their superstar shortstop back.
According to manager Terry Francona, the Reds will activate Elly De La Cruz ahead of Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. De La Cruz landed on the injured list with a right hamstring strain on May 31 after trying to leg out a base hit against the Atlanta Braves.
By the end of Monday's game, De La Cruz will have missed 19 games. During that stretch, the Reds struggled offensively, averaging just 3.83 runs per game. As a result, Cincinnati went 7-11 and slipped to 37-39, two games under .500.
De La Cruz appeared in just three rehab games with Triple-A Louisville, going 2-for-8 with a home run and a walk. With a pivotal series against the division-rival Brewers beginning tonight, the Reds will wait one more game before welcoming their two-time All-Star back.
Terry Francona confirms that Elly De La Cruz will be activated tomorrow.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) June 22, 2026
Before the injury, De La Cruz was enjoying the best start of his four-year career. He hit .280/.346/.509 with an .855 OPS, 13 doubles, 12 home runs, and 10 stolen bases.
In his absence, Matt McLain and top prospect Edwin Arroyo tried to fill the void at shortstop. McLain's season-long struggles continued, while Arroyo adjusted to big-league pitching in his first taste of the majors.
A corresponding roster move will be announced Tuesday when De La Cruz is officially activated. Arroyo could be the odd man out as the Reds navigate a crowded infield.
Because of their recent slump, the Reds now sit last in the National League Central, 9.5 games behind the first-place Brewers. While the division may be out of reach, Cincinnati remains firmly in the playoff race, sitting just two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the final National League Wild Card spot.
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The Reds are no strangers to sneaking into October. They finished just 83-79 last season but still claimed the final playoff berth. With the way the National League is shaping up, a similar record could be enough to reach the postseason again.
But if the Reds hope to get there, they need to get their offense back on track. De La Cruz will provide a major boost, but an outside addition at the August 3 trade deadline may still be necessary to add the extra thump this lineup needs.
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 2:20 PM.