The Cincinnati Reds made it official—June 23 is now “Elly De La Cruz Day”—after the rising superstar delivered a dominant performance in a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees. De La Cruz ignited the offense and reminded fans why he’s considered the future of the franchise, stepping up under the spotlight in a high-stakes opener against the AL East leaders.
He went 3-for-4 with a home run, triple, RBI single, and two runs scored—falling just a double short of the cycle, exactly one year after recording the first cycle of his MLB career in 2023. He racked up three RBIs and eight total bases, continuing a scorching June in which he’s batting .309 with six home runs and 12 RBIs.
The Reds’ official X account (formerly Twitter) honored the moment with a declaration:
“We hereby declare June 23rd as Elly De La Cruz Day.”
MLB also weighed in, noting the poetic timing:
“On this exact date two years ago, De La Cruz hit for the cycle. Tonight, he was a double shy of doing it again.”
Though beating the Yankees is always meaningful, this one carried extra weight. After Aaron Judge put New York up 1-0 in the first, De La Cruz responded with an RBI triple in the fourth, an RBI single in the fifth, and his 18th homer of the year in the eighth.
Cincinnati improved to 41-38 and has now won 11 of its last 16 games. Pitching was key, too—Nick Lodolo and Scott Barlow combined to hold the Yankees hitless (0-for-12) with runners in scoring position. The six-run outing marked just the second time in 14 games that New York allowed more than three earned runs.
De La Cruz’s sensational performance has only heightened calls for a long-term deal, as he continues to shine as the team’s centerpiece. Responsible for four of the Reds’ six runs, he remains the spark behind their midseason momentum.
With his growing legacy and a city-backed holiday now in his honor, “Elly De La Cruz Day” might not just be a one-time event—it could become a yearly tradition in Cincinnati.
