Elly De La Cruz, Reds Wow MLB Fans With 24-2 Blowout Win Over Orioles
Doric Sam
Apr 20, 2025
After splitting the first two matchups of their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Cincinnati Reds closed things out in a big way in Sunday's finale.
The Reds exploded for a 24-2 victory over the Orioles to improve to 11-11 this season. Star slugger Elly De La Cruz hit a solo home run that kicked off a seven-run third inning.
Fans on social media were impressed by Cincinnati's blowout victory against Baltimore:
There have been 7 games since 2005 when the home team lost by 20+ runs. The Orioles have done it 3 times: 24-2 to Reds today 23-2 to Astros 8/10/2019 30-3 to Rangers 8/22/2007
In addition to De La Cruz making his presence felt, 10 out of 11 batters registered at least one hit for the Reds, and they got major production from the bottom of the lineup.
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Catcher Austin Wynns, who is getting playing time with Tyler Stephenson on the injured list, went 6-for-7 from the No. 9 spot with a three-run home run, six RBI and two runs.
Third baseman Noelvi Marte, who was recalled on Thursday, was just as impressive in the No. 8 spot, going 5-for-7 with a grand slam, seven RBI and three runs.
Wynns and Marte are now the first Reds teammates to have six or more RBI in the same game since 1920.
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While Cincinnati's hitters garnered most of the attention for Sunday's offensive explosion, five pitchers combined to keep the Orioles at bay in a bullpen game. Brent Suter and Randy Wynne pitched three innings apiece in the victory, with the latter earning his first career save.
After starting the year with seven losses in their first 10 games, the Reds appear to have found the right formula for success. But they will need to be more consistent if they are to earn their first trip to the playoffs since 2020.
Cincinnati will try to stay hot when it meets the Miami Marlins (9-12) in Game 1 of their three-game series on Monday.
Jackson Merrill, Padres Reportedly Agree to 9-Year, $135M Contract Extension
Julia Stumbaugh
Apr 2, 2025
Jackson Merrill could be sticking around in San Diego for another decade.
The Padres and Merrill have agreed to a nine-year, $135 million extension worth a maximum of $204 million, per FanSided's Robert Murray.
The deal includes a $30 million club option for a 10th season that can convert to a player option, Murray noted.
Merrill finished the 2024 season as runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year after leading MLB rookies with a .292 batting average, 61 extra-base hits and 90 RBI.
He has looked just as effective during the early stages of his second MLB campaign. He's hitting .400 through six games as the Padres' starting center fielder.
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His new contract was finalized the day after he hit his first home run of the season during the Padres' 7-0 home win over the Cleveland Guardians.
The Padres discussed an extension with Merrill before his first MLB start last offseason, but "the two sides did not come to an agreement," per The Athletic's Dennis Lin.
More recently, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller told Lin that the Padres had held conversations with Merrill "at different moments over the last few years, even dating back to when he was in the minor leagues."
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"We were just like, ‘Was there a creative way to do something before he broke into the big leagues? And even last year, when he was breaking into the big leagues?’ Ultimately, we never got to anything concrete," Preller told Lin.
That persistence apparently paid off. The Padres have now locked Merrill up before he could further raise his negotiating price with another potential All-Star and Silver Slugger Award-winning season.
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The extension could be seen as an indication of a larger change in how the Padres handle their star players. The franchise is now a year-and-a-half removed from trading Juan Soto to the New York Yankees ahead of the final season of his contract.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale previously reported that the Padres were negotiating an extension for Soto before the death of former owner Peter Seidler in November 2023. The club ultimately traded Soto amid the beginning of a high-profile legal dispute over ownership of the franchise.
Signing Merrill early in his career is a promising sign that the Padres are preparing to end a pattern of trading stars or allowing them to walk in free agency rather than keeping them in San Diego.
Elly De La Cruz Laughs About Using 'Torpedo' Bat Again After 2 HR, 7 RBIs in Reds' Win
Adam Wells
Apr 1, 2025
The torpedo bat remains all the rage in Major League Baseball, with Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Crus being the latest player to have a big game while using the custom lumber.
After going 4-for-5 with two homers and seven RBI in the Reds' 14-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday, De La Cruz laughed when asked by reporters if he would be using the torpedo bat again (starts at 3:00 mark).
Elly De La Cruz 4-for-5 (2 bombs) used the “torpedo” bat for the first time Monday night. Pretty good results. pic.twitter.com/saKH39kWf5
Even though the torpedo bats were used last season, they garnered significant attention during opening weekend after the New York Yankees hit nine homers in a single game on Saturday and 15 total in their three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.
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The bats, which are legal under MLB rules, are designed to distribute the weight differently than what has been traditionally used. Instead of the bat expanding from the bottom up, so the top is the widest point, the torpedo bat has more wood located in a specific point where the hitter is most likely to make contact with the ball.
Some players across the league are using “torpedo” bats. Torpedo bats are defined by an untraditional barrel, which rests closer to the hitter's hands. The bats are designed with more wood concentrated in the area of the bat where the hitter is most likely to hit the ball. pic.twitter.com/EMm0meES4p
Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the science behind the torpedo bat is that increased mass at the barrel should increase exit velocities and weight distribution closer to the knob promotes faster swings.
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Simple logic will say that faster swings and increased exit velocities lead to more power.
There's still no hard evidence to suggest that the bats lead to sustained improvement. The Yankees' barrage against the Brewers took off in part because it's the beginning of the season, so sample sizes are extremely small and any outlier performance will garner more attention.
De La Cruz, who is already an established star after finishing eighth in NL MVP voting last year, had a huge game against a pitcher in Kumar Rocker making his fourth career MLB start.
Report: Jose Trevino, Reds Agree to Contract Extension After Offseason Yankees Trade
Adam Wells
Mar 20, 2025
One week away from the start of the 2025 MLB regular season, the Cincinnati Reds have locked up the services of catcher Jose Trevino.
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, Jose Trevino and the Reds have agreed to an extension that will pay him almost $15 million over three years and includes a team option for 2028.
Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer provided specific details of the contract, which includes $5.25 million salaries in 2026 and 2027. The 2028 option is worth $6.5 million, but Trevino will receive a $1 million buyout if the club declines his option.
Deal is worth $14.925 million Stays at same $3.425m for this season, then $5.25m each of 2026, 2027. Plus: 2028 option for $6.5 million ($1m buyout). https://t.co/gTjkXuUn4B
After getting the start behind the plate on opening day last year for the New York Yankees, Trevino was quickly supplanted as the No. 1 catcher on the depth chart by Austin Wells.
A first-round draft pick in 2020, Wells had a successful first season in the big leagues. He finished third in 2024 AL Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .229/.322/.395 with 13 homers in 115 games.
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The Yankees traded Trevino to Cincinnati for Fernando Cruz and Alex Jackson in December. He will be the starting catcher for the Reds to open the season with Tyler Stephenson going on the injured list due to a strained oblique.
Trevino was already under contract this season with a $3.4 million base salary in his final year of arbitration. Rather than hit the market next offseason, the 32-year-old has given himself long-term security with a franchise where he could be the starting catcher for multiple years.
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Trevino was a sixth-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in 2014. He spent three full years in the minors before finally getting called up in for a brief three-game stint midway through the 2018 season.
The Rangers continued to shuttle Trevino between the big leagues and Triple-A for the next three seasons before trading him to the Yankees in April 2022.
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Trevino's best season was his first year in the Bronx. He hit .248/.283/.388 in 115 games, earned an All-Star selection and won a Gold Glove award.
The past two seasons have seen Trevino post a .213/.275/.336 slash line in 128 games. He ranks fourth among all catchers with at least 400 innings in FanGraphs' defensive value since 2022.
Elly De La Cruz Talks Reds Season, Terry Francona and MLB The Show 25 in B/R Interview
Scott Polacek
Mar 19, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds made a splash this offseason by hiring three-time Manager of the Year Terry Francona, and the club's new leader wasted no time setting the bar high for the face of the franchise.
And Elly De La Cruz loved that he did.
"I told him again yesterday, 'I want you to be the best player in baseball on the best team in baseball.' That’s my goal," Francona said in February, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "And he got a big smile on his face."
That is quite a lofty goal, and De La Cruz is embracing it.
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"I'm so grateful that somebody with so many years in the game believes in me like that and wants me to be the best player on the best team," the star shortstop told Bleacher Report on Wednesday. "So now we've got to go and make it happen."
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De La Cruz is already on the short list of Major League Baseball's most talented players at 23 years old, and he started proving as much right away. He impressed with 13 home runs and 35 stolen bases in 98 games during his debut in 2023 and then turned the corner into a complete game-changer during the 2024 campaign.
It was in his second season that he made the All-Star Game, led the league in stolen bases (67), and slashed .259/.339/.471 with 25 home runs and 76 RBI.
Throw in a cannon of an arm at shortstop and some slick fielding skills, and it is clear who the star of the present and the future is for Cincinnati.
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That's not to say there isn't room for improvement, as De La Cruz did lead the league in strikeouts (218) and errors (29) last season. But it is not a stretch to suggest he can become one of the very best players in the sport for years to come if he takes strides in those areas while continuing to bring his electrifying speed and power on a daily basis.
And Francona is the manager entrusted with making that happen.
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"It feels great working with him," De La Cruz said of his new manager. "He teaches a lot of good stuff and has good communication. I think the team is together and good to go with him."
Cincinnati has been stuck in a pattern of mediocrity since reaching the playoffs during the shortened 2020 campaign and finished in third or fourth place in the National League Central in each of the last four seasons, including when it went 77-85 in 2024.
So it responded by bringing in one of the most respected names in baseball to turn things around in the immediate future. Francona previously managed the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians and has a resume that features two World Series titles and another World Series appearance.
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One of those championships was the famous one in 2004 with the Red Sox that broke the Curse of the Bambino drought and included a 3-0 comeback in the American League Championship Series against the rival New York Yankees.
If Cincinnati is going to do anything like that under Francona, it will need De La Cruz healthy and leading the way on the field as he lives up to his potential.
That is why he is keeping his goals simple and straightforward in 2025.
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"My individual goal is to be healthy the whole season and be able to play every day," he said. "That's what I want."
Playing the entire season would be more of the same for the shortstop after he appeared in 160 games in 2024. But it would also mean needing some time to rest at some point, which could come during the All-Star break.
After all, he declined an invite to the Home Run Derby last season and told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, "I don't want to do it right now. At some point in my career, yeah. But not right now."
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So could we see him participate this year?
"I don't know yet," he said while laughing.
Fear not, though, baseball fans. You can still lead De La Cruz to a virtual Home Run Derby title in MLB The Show 25, which launched its standard edition on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch on Tuesday.
Photo Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
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De La Cruz is part of the first ever trio of cover athletes in the game's history. The Reds star joined Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Baltimore Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson on the cover of this year's edition.
"I was so excited," De La Cruz said when discussing his initial reaction to finding out he would be on the cover. "It was something that made me happy, and I'm so excited to share the cover with those guys. I'm so grateful to be one of the faces of the game."
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This year's MLB The Show features increased on-field realism with new player animations as well as an updated Road To The Show mode that includes The Amateur Years of high school and college before reaching baseball's biggest stage.
And one of the cover athletes is ready to take on all challengers.
"I can't wait to play against anybody," De La Cruz said of MLB The Show. "I don't think anybody can beat me."
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In a perfect world for the Reds, nobody will be able to beat them on the field in a wide-open NL Central this year either.
It is arguably the most wide open division in baseball considering the reigning-champion Milwaukee Brewers lost shortstop Willy Adames and pitcher Devin Williams this offseason. They also finished last season with 93 wins, which was the fewest victories for a division winner in the National League.
There also isn't a financial powerhouse in the NL Central that went out and loaded its roster like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
According to Spotrac, the Chicago Cubs have the highest payroll in the division, but even they are a middling 12th and not nearly as high as logic would dictate for a franchise that plays in an iconic location with its own television channel that Forbes ranked as the fourth-most valuable in the league.
Elsewhere the St. Louis Cardinals are 19th, Reds are 22nd, Brewers are 24th and Pirates are 26th.
The division could belong to anyone this year, and Cincinnati has a new proven manager and De La Cruz likely just entering his peak as one of the best players in the league leading the way. The opportunity is there to break a playoff drought, and the shortstop made it clear that is what the team has in mind.
"Yeah," he said. "We're working together toward the season. That's what we want, to make the playoffs and win it all."
Pete Alonso Rumors: Reds 'May Consider' Contract in MLB FA amid Mets, Blue Jays Buzz
Jan 31, 2025
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of Game 3 of the Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Reds "may consider" pursuing slugger Pete Alonso in free agency, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Heyman noted that the Reds could allow Alonso to re-establish his value on a contract that would contain "early opt-outs."
SNY's Andy Martino reported Tuesday that the Toronto Blue Jays have also been "confirmed to have had talks" with the first baseman, while Heyman revealed that New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has been in contact with Alonso's camp.
The Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants are also among the teams to "check in" on Alonso, per Heyman.
Despite rumors surrounding a reunion with the Mets, Cohen didn't appear to be optimistic regarding a return when discussing negotiations with fans at New York's fanfest event on Saturday.
"I don't like the structures that are being presented back to us," Cohen said. "I think it's highly asymmetric against us. I feel strongly about it. I will never say 'no,' there's always a possibility, but the reality is we're moving forward and we continue to bring in players."
"I don't like the negotiations. I don't like what's been presented to us."
Steve Cohen talks about the Mets' negotiations with Pete Alonso and the possibility of the Mets moving forward without him:
The four-time All-Star hit just .232 with runners in scoring position and registered a career-low .788 OPS during the 2024 season, but he was still able to record 34 home runs and 31 doubles.
Alonso was much more effective during New York's National League Championship Series run, hitting four home runs and 10 RBIs during the postseason to go along with a .273/.431/.568 slash line.
Cincinnati has increased its free-agency activity as of late, signing outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year, $5 million contract on Tuesday. The Reds also acquired reliever Taylor Rogers in a trade with the Giants on Wednesday.
If they're looking to make a larger splash and attempt to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020, they could pursue Alonso.
MLB Rumors: Reds, White Sox Couldn't Find 'Middle Ground' on Luis Robert Jr. Trade
Jan 30, 2025
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates a run against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 16, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Reds have increased their activity in recent days, but they reportedly fell short of making a major trade.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, the Reds were "working on" a trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. until Sunday, but the teams "could not find a middle ground on players or dollars."
Robert is set to earn $15 million for the 2025 season and has $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027 with $2 million buyouts in both years, so trading for him would require a commitment of at least $17 million. The 27-year-old is coming off another injury-riddled season in 2024 in which he was limited to 100 games and hit a career-worst .224 with just 14 home runs and 35 RBI.
Sources told Rosenthal and Sammon that Cincinnati and Chicago "did not resolve how much of Robert's salary the White Sox would have paid." The Reds reportedly included infield prospect Edwin Arroyo in discussions with the White Sox, but "ultimately, the Reds could not get comfortable with the total cost."
After failing to land Robert, the Reds pivoted by reaching an agreement with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays on a one-year, $5 million contract, pending a physical. Cincinnati also signed veteran left-hander Wade Miley to a minor-league deal and acquired lefty reliever Taylor Rogers in a trade with the San Francisco Giants.
The Reds went 77-85 in 2024 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Cincinnati is certainly hoping its recent additions will help turn things around next season, and it can be expected that the franchise will continue seeking improvements to its roster this winter.
Photo: Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson Land 'MLB The Show 25' Cover
Jan 27, 2025
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 27: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after being thrown out advancing to third base against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field on September 27, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MLB The Show 25 will feature a number of young stars on its cover for this year's video game.
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, Cincinnati Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson received the honor:
The stars of today and tomorrow:
Elly De la Cruz ⚡ Paul Skenes 🔥 Gunnar Henderson 💪
De La Cruz, 23, has emerged as one of the most exciting players in the sport, hitting .259 in the 2024 season with 25 homers, 76 RBI, 105 runs, an MLB-leading 67 stolen bases and a .809 OPS.
The first-time All-Star is also a wizard defensively, to the point that he had even Snoop Dogg shook:
Henderson, 23, was the 2023 AL Rookie of the Year and a 2024 All-Star, hitting .281 this past season with 37 homers, 92 RBI, 118 runs and a .893 OPS.
Finally, the 22-year-old Skenes is already one of the top pitchers in the game after a 2024 season that saw him named both an All-Star and the NL Rookie of the Year. He went 11-3 in 23 starts with a 1.96 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings, elite numbers. By as early as next season, he may be the National League's most dominant starter.
And now, all three will share the cover.
Reds Share Photos of Great American Ball Park Covered in Snow After Winter Storm
Jan 7, 2025
CINCINNATI, OH - MARCH 28: Overhead view of fans outside of Great American Ball Park prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron Doster/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Reds shared pictures of Great American Ball Park covered in snow after Winter Storm Blair passed through the area.
The Greater Cincinnati area received nearly a foot of snow, including 10.7 inches at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, per Adam Burniston of WLWT 5.
Earlier this year, the Red Sox showcased snow at Fenway Park.
The latest snowstorm also hit Louisville, and Aaron Cheris, the PR manager for the Reds' Triple-A affiliate (the Louisville Bats), sent this picture from Louisville Slugger Field.
Took a walk to the ballpark earlier...
Already about 6 inches of fluffy snow at Louisville Slugger Field! 🌨️
This storm is no joke, rivals the flurries I've seen in New York throughout the years. pic.twitter.com/LuhRKjRJvk
It isn't surprising whatsoever that ballparks have been covered with snow in early January, but MLB teams have also played ball in the snow before.
The 2003 Baltimore Orioles notoriously did so on their Opening Day game.
MASN revealed game No.10 on our OPACY Classics Countdown: Opening Day 2003 in the snow, Gary Matthews' 13th inning single wins it. #OPACY25pic.twitter.com/GEzAGwwIGC
The 1996 New York Yankees also played in snow when they hosted the Kansas City Royals for their home opener.
Perhaps we'll see more snow games this season, which featured an early stateside Opening Day of March 27. Cincinnati notably hosts the San Francisco Giants at 4:10 p.m. ET that day.
