MLB Has an Elly De La Cruz Problem Nobody Can Explain!

Elly De La Cruz led all of MLB in errors two years in a row — yet the Cincinnati Reds shortstop is now one of the best defenders in baseball. Terry Francona saw this exact Elly De La Cruz transformation coming back in February 2025, and everything that's happened since — the 2024 breakout, the 2025 collapse, the 2026 MVP leap, and the Reds' current second-half fade — has followed the pattern he called that day. In this deep dive we break down: • The February 2025 meeting where Terry Francona quietly diagnosed Elly De La Cruz's biggest flaw • The 2024 season that had him 8th in NL MVP voting AND leading MLB in errors • Why Statcast's Outs Above Average and the box score couldn't agree on whether he's a good defender • The mechanical fix Francona identified: "He has plenty of arm strength, but he didn't have his legs under him" • The 2025 second-half collapse — a .236 average, an 80 wRC+, and getting dropped to 7th in the order • Francona publicly owning his own mistake in December 2025 • De La Cruz's offseason transformation: 15 pounds of added mass, a swing overhaul, and a return to his old leg kick • The 2026 defensive leap that made Francona call one play "one of the most physically impressive" he's ever seen • The honest complication nobody's talking about — his sprint speed is declining, and it's not clear why • How the Reds' 20-11 hot start turned into a fifth-place fade in the NL Central, and what it says about the whole organization This is the Terry Francona and Elly De La Cruz story — the making of a Cincinnati Reds superstar, told through the one flaw everybody saw but almost nobody explained. 👇 Drop your take in the comments — is this shortstop ever a plus-defender for good, or does the error total creep back up? TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 The Impossible Contradiction 0:15 Francona's Prophecy — February 2025 0:45 Elly De La Cruz Highlight Reel 1:00 The 2026 MVP Breakout 1:30 The 2024 Contradiction: 29 Errors, +14 OAA 2:30 Francona's Diagnosis: "His Legs Weren't Under Him" 3:20 The 2025 Second-Half Collapse 4:30 Francona Owns His Mistake 5:15 The Offseason Transformation 6:45 The 2026 Defensive Leap 9:15 The Honest Complication: Declining Sprint Speed 10:30 The Reds' Second-Half Collapse 12:00 The Verdict on Elly De La Cruz #EllyDeLaCruz #CincinnatiReds #TerryFrancona #MLB #Baseball 🔔Subscribe for the best MLB Content🔔:    / @baseballunleashed13   Watch More Scary Truth Videos Here:    • The SCARY Truth Nobody is Noticing   Watch More Rise Stories Here:    • MLB Rising Stars: The Next Wave   Watch our best Shorts Here:    • 🔥 Best Baseball Shorts Highlights - Non-St...   Follow on TikTok:   / baseballunleashed   Follow on Instagram:   / baseballunleashed13   Join the Squad & Support the Best MLB Content!Get exclusive badges, pro YouTube advice, and for our most loyal fans — personal 1-on-1 mentorship to build your own channel. Weekly bangers await. Become a member today! Link:    / @baseballunleashed13