Reds’ Elly De La Cruz discusses his 2025 MLB All-Star Game selection
Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz discusses his 2025 MLB All-Star Game selection
PHILADELPHIA − Elly De La Cruz is an MLB All-Star again.
De La Cruz, a literal and figurative cover-boy for MLB, will join the National League All-Stars for the second straight year, officials announced Sunday, July 6.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona informed his team of the selection prior to the game. During his postgame meeting with Cincinnati-based reporters, Francona suggested there might still be a chance starting pitcher Andrew Abbott could end up in Atlanta, too.
“I wanted it to be upbeat because it’s very much an honor for Elly,” Francona said. “Also wanted some of the guys to know we care, like Friedl and Abbott. I know (for us), Abbott’s pitching Wednesday (July 9), so he would be available. I don’t know where it falls on the pecking order but I do know if it gets to him, he would be able to pitch and I know he would like to, so that’s my hope.
“Everything he (De La Cruz) kind of told me this winter, and when I say that, he’s not a big talker. But I mean he told me what he wanted to be and how he wanted to get there. He’s doing that. He’s growing up. I think one of the things he has to battle is everyone’s always talking about his ceiling, and I just kind of wanted to impress upon him that if we see it in the confines of the game, it’s really gonna be special. That’s kind of all I’ve ever told him, and he’s doing a really good job.”
De La Cruz entered Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies hitting .279 with 18 home runs, 60 RBI and 96 hits with 22 stolen bases. In the final 10-game stretch leading into Sunday’s All-Star Game announcement, De La Cruz hit .333 with 14 hits.
In being named to the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta (July 15, 8 p.m.), De La Cruz joins a long list of Reds to make multiple All-Star Game appearances. It’s a list that started with Ernie Lombardi, who became a repeat Reds All-Star when he made his second Midsummer Classic appearance in 1937.
Most of Cincinnati’s “Great Eight” contingent from the Big Red Machine era made multiple All-Star Games.
That list continued in the modern era with Reds greats including Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr., Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier.
“I know it means a lot,” De La Cruz said. “I think everybody in this game wants to go to the All-Star Game, so it’s exciting.”
Asked if he was surprised Abbott hadn’t been named to the All-Star Game, De La Cruz noted: “We don’t know that yet. He’ll probably make it.”
De La Cruz also reaffirmed his earlier decision of not participating in the Home Run Derby.
