Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz finishes top-10 in voting for NL MVP
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz took a major step forward in his second season, going from promising rookie to superstar, and finished in the top-10 in the National League MVP voting announced on Thursday.
Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter, claimed all 30 votes after an outstanding season in which he became the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, leading the Dodgers to a World Series win over the Yankees.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor finished second with 263 points, while Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte placed third with 229 points. De La Cruz came in eighth with 89 points, including four fourth-place votes.
The 22-year-old De La Cruz capped his All-Star season with a 5.2 WAR (wins above replacement), including a Major League-best 67 stolen bases and an .809 OPS. He hit .259 with 25 home runs, 10 triples, and 76 RBIs. He also became the first shortstop in MLB history to record 25 or more home runs and 65 or more stolen bases in a season.
However, De La Cruz’s season wasn’t without flaws, as he led MLB in both strikeouts with 218 and errors with 29, across 160 games.
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