Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz appears to have at least a week to go in his injured list stint.
Reds manager Terry Francona said De La Cruz would run the bases at Great American Ball Park pregame on June 15 and June 16, and then “send him out to play over the weekend” on a rehab assignment. A weekend rehab assignment June 19-21 would conflict with the Reds’ road series at the New York Yankees on the same dates
That would make De La Cruz’s earliest return date during the Reds’ June 22-24 home series against the Milwaukee Brewers, and it’s worth remembering Francona has consistently prioritized a cautious approach to bring De La Cruz back into the fold.
In addition to running the bases at Great American Ball Park June 15, De La Cruz also took fielding practice.
Where the rehab assignment takes place was still undecided as of June 14. Triple-A Louisville would be preferable because of the level of play, Francona said, but Louisville, Double-A Chattanooga and High-A Dayton will all be playing road series.
Francona said De La Cruz has been eager to return to action throughout his time on the IL, which started June 1 due to a right hamstring strain suffered during the fifth inning of a May 31 game against the Atlanta Braves. De La Cruz likely had an extra-base hit on his hands but pulled out of his sprint as he rounded first base. He was then removed from the game and landed on the IL the next day.
A June 12 scan showed about 90% healing for De La Cruz, and his activity was ramped up this past weekend alongside the Reds playing the Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park.
Francona said the team explained to De La Cruz the importance of following through on a methodical process leading to his eventual return.
“We’ve talked to him several times because the one thing I don’t want him to ever feel is: One, that we’re not listening to him. And, two, that we don’t want him to play,” Francona said. “We’re dying for him to play. I just don’t think you can do what’s right (only) when it’s convenient. That’s the best way. And I think, down deep, I think he understands. I just think he just wants to play desperately. And, (heck), I respect that a lot.”
Francona said the team officials eventually involved in the rehab assignment would likely evaluate De La Cruz’s in-game activity levels to decide on his time playing the field versus being a designated hitter.
The Reds could certainly use De La Cruz right now. They’re 3-9 since he went on the IL, and have scored three runs or less in eight of the 12 games. Cincinnati is 33-37 at the outset of a three-game home series against the New York Mets.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds manager Terry Francona on the next steps for Elly De La Cruz
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
