Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz made headlines on September 9, 2026, with a standout performance at Dodger Stadium, despite the Reds narrowly losing 3-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. De La Cruz hit a home run in his fourth consecutive game, driving a 109.4 mph ball 444 feet into left field and tying the score at two runs apiece. His offensive contribution displayed his powerful bat, underscoring his status as a rising star in Major League Baseball.

However, De La Cruz’s most outstanding moment came on defense in the same inning. Dodger left fielder Teoscar Hernández launched a line drive that could have turned into his first inside-the-park home run. As Hernández sprinted towards home, left fielder JJ Bleday retrieved the ball on the warning track and quickly relayed it into the infield where De La Cruz fielded it perfectly. He then unleashed an unprecedented 102 mph throw, measured by Statcast, from nearly 200 feet to catcher Jose Trevino, who tagged Hernández out well before he reached home plate.

This throw set a new record for the hardest assist by an infielder in the Statcast era, which dates back to 2015, significantly surpassing De La Cruz’s previous top throws ranging close to 99.8 mph. While De La Cruz’s 102 mph record-assist is the strongest among infielders, it still trails the two fastest overall in MLB history—Brenton Doyle's 105.7 mph and Aaron Hicks' 105.5 mph outfield throws. Regardless, the feat showcased De La Cruz’s remarkable arm strength, which ranks in the 91st percentile across the league and has been a hallmark of his game since his MLB debut in 2023.

Over the 2026 season, De La Cruz is solidifying his impact with a .283 batting average, .362 on-base percentage, and .506 slugging percentage, accumulating a 5.0 bWAR despite a modest defensive WAR of 0.2 and a .971 fielding percentage. His ability to contribute both offensively and defensively with game-changing plays, especially his extraordinary arm strength, is increasingly making him a fan favorite and a dynamic force on the field, offering a complete “Elly De La Cruz experience” for the 48,000 fans in attendance that night.