The beat-up Cincinnati Reds might have their biggest injury concern of all on their hands after Elly De La Cruz exited the team’s May 31 game against the Atlanta Braves with right hamstring tightness, according to team officials.
De La Cruz hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth inning against Braves starter Spencer Strider, but the hit was a no-doubt extra-base hit in the right-center field gap that went to the wall. De La Cruz slowed his sprint and pulled up as he rounded first base.
A team trainer and manager Terry Francona emerged from the dugout to attend to De la Cruz, who was then lifted from the game. Reds officials didn’t immediately confirm the nature of the apparent injury.
De La Cruz had started every game so far in 2026, and had a consecutive games streak of 276. In the series finale against the Braves, De La Cruz was 2-for-2 with two singles and walk. He scored from first base on a JJ Bleday double in the first inning, and stole a base in the third inning, later scoring from third base on another Bleday double.
The Reds-Braves series coincided with Cincinnati placing two of its back-end relievers, Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson, on the 60-day and 15-day injured lists, respectively. Those injuries originated prior to the series at Great American Ball Park.
The Enquirer will update this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elly De La Cruz exits Reds-Braves series finale early. Here’s what we know
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
