Elly De La Cruz

There are two primary ways to win the stolen base category in 2025 fantasy baseball. You can wait and hodge-podge together a few guys to get there. Or you can draft Elly De La Cruz. The 22-year-old shortstop arrived in speedster fashion in 2024, racking up 67 stolen bases in 160 games. He also hit 25 home runs and scored 105 runs. Sure, his K% is in the sixth percentile at 31.3, and he isn't going to do much for your batting average. However, he can single-handedly deliver an SB win in weekly H2H leagues. Interestingly, ELDC hit more home runs away from Great American Ball Park (13 to 12), so there is room for growth with his power numbers if he unlocks that cheat code of a home stadium. Elly is a first-round draft pick with significant upside in 2025.

Elly De La Cruz has quiet day at Wrigley

Elly De La Cruz went 1-for-4 with a double in the Reds' 1-0 loss to the Cubs.

Fantasy Impact

Despite this subdued performance, De La Cruz's season remains impressive, particularly for a player in his early career stages. His ability to rack up extra-base hits is evident with 36 doubles and 25 homers on the year. However, his high strikeout rate continues to be a concern, potentially capping his batting average potential. Fantasy managers should value his speed and power combination but be wary of the batting average and strikeout liability. His performance in high-pressure games down the stretch will be crucial for those in playoff contention in fantasy leagues.