The Human Bolt Of Lightning That Is Elly De La Cruz Stole Three Bases In Four Innings

It’s official: Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is a terror on the base paths.

Tyler Anderson and Logan O’Hoppe were the starting pitcher and catcher, respectively, for the Los Angeles Angels against the Reds on Friday evening. They probably thought they had a relatively standard evening on their hands: go out on the mound, limit the traffic on the bases, rinse, and repeat.

Elly De La Cruz (sliding) steals second base in the second inning of a game against the Angels. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)

But unfortunately, the Reds roster boasts a human bullet train who has the invaluable trait of creating offense by stealing bases. De La Cruz puts strain on the battery pairing each night because, in the blink of an eye, he’ll advance 90 feet and leave the defense unable to do anything about it.

Anderson and Stephenson found that out the hard way.

Jake Fraley came up to bat after De La Cruz reached on an infield single in the bottom of the second. Anderson delivered his second pitch of the at bat, and De LA Cruz booked it for second (no joke).

The throw was pitifully late.

On the very next pitch, the shortstop got the urge to steal third. Surely, Stephenson would get him this time, right?

Apparently not, since De LA Cruz’s sprint speed can basically break the sound barrier.

Not only did De La Cruz steal third, he scored after the rushed throw from O’Hoppe that hopped into the outfield (excuse my awful pun).

In the fourth inning, De La Cruz stole second again just for funsies. 

The look of dejection on the catcher’s face says it all. It’s nearly impossible to nab him on the base paths (he’s been caught stealing only twice in 12 attempts this season). 

The speedster has stolen three bases in a game before, when he did it in the same at bat against the Milwaukee Brewers last year. 

So if you’re a pitcher-catcher duo who’s got the task of facing De LA Cruz, good luck. Make sure you get him out at the plate, because it will be incredibly hard to get him out anywhere else.