Cincinnati Reds superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz joined rare company Friday, becoming just the fourth player in franchise history to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in the same season.
De La Cruz secured his 30th steal during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. After hitting a two-run double, he immediately took off for third base on Jose Soriano's first pitch to Sal Stewart. De La Cruz beat catcher Alejandro Kirk's throw with a headfirst slide.
Elly De La Cruz becomes just the 4th Reds player EVER to record a 30/30 season! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZqTrQbrhCY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 25, 2026
The 24-year-old had already reached 30 home runs Thursday during Cincinnati's 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves. He hit his 30th homer in the third inning against Tyler Mahle. One day later, De La Cruz completed the 30/30 combination.
The accomplishment places him alongside three Reds legends. Eric Davis was the first Cincinnati player to reach the mark, finishing 1987 with 37 home runs and 50 stolen bases. Barry Larkin followed in 1996 with 33 homers and 36 steals, while Brandon Phillips produced 30 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 2007. All three are members of the Reds Hall of Fame, while Larkin is also in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Article Continues BelowDe La Cruz also became the first Cincinnati player and eighth Major Leaguer since 1900 to steal at least 30 bases in each of his first four seasons. Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. accomplished the same feat from 2022 through 2025.
His 30th steal also placed De La Cruz among the Reds players such as Billy Hamilton, Joe Morgan, Bob Bescher and Hans Lobert, who each recorded 30 or more steals in at least four consecutive seasons.
The 30 homers are another team milestone for De La Cruz. They set a single-season record for a switch-hitter, surpassing his own mark of 25 from 2024. They also rank second among primary shortstops in Cincinnati history, behind only Larkin's 33 in 1996.
De La Cruz reached the 30/30 mark despite missing almost a month in June with a hamstring injury. Before Friday's game, he ranked first in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, hits and total bases, and second in home runs and on-base percentage.

