If a player debuted in the majors and hit just .184/.231/.263 with 49 strikeouts in 122 plate appearances, there would naturally be concern. You might excuse it as inexperience or growing pains. But if that player followed up with a .224/.307/.354 line and 69 strikeouts in 217 plate appearances, the improvement would be modest at best—better plate discipline, but still far from consistent production.
Now imagine a third season yielding a .246/.276/.342 slash line with 61 strikeouts in 210 plate appearances. The strikeout rate would have dropped slightly, but the on-base skills would have regressed. Considering a .316 batting average on balls in play (BABIP), luck wasn’t to blame. Across those three years and 549 total plate appearances, the line sits at .220/.278/.329 with 13 home runs and an alarming 35 walks to 179 strikeouts—a profile comparable to defensive specialists, not offensive leaders.
Those numbers belong to Elly De La Cruz—specifically, his performance right-handed against left-handed pitchers. While De La Cruz has shown flashes of brilliance overall, his right-handed hitting has been a clear weakness.
In contrast, when batting left-handed against right-handed pitchers, he’s thrived. Over 1,273 plate appearances, he’s hit .271/.350/.496 with 47 home runs and a much-improved strikeout-to-walk ratio (136 walks to 364 strikeouts). His progress in this area has been steady, with career highs in average and on-base percentage in 2025, signaling real development from the left side.
Switch-hitters who excel from both sides—like José Ramírez or Francisco Lindor—are invaluable. De La Cruz, at just 23 years old, still has time to refine his approach, but the disparity between his left- and right-handed results raises the question: would he actually perform better if he batted left-handed full-time, even against lefties?
This discussion ties into another issue: his workload. Since the start of the 2024 season, De La Cruz has played in 322 games—trailing only Matt Olson and Pete Alonso (324 each). Predictably, his second-half numbers have dipped in both seasons, suggesting fatigue. The Reds could benefit from strategically resting him, especially against left-handed starters—precisely the situations where his right-handed struggles are most apparent.
After reviewing his performance splits and consulting with the team’s hitting staff, Elly De La Cruz has reportedly decided to abandon switch-hitting and will focus exclusively on batting left-handed beginning next season. The decision reflects his confidence from the left side and the team’s belief that simplifying his approach will unlock even more consistent offensive production.
If this change helps him maintain energy and elevate his performance, it could mark the next step in De La Cruz’s rise from promising young talent to true superstar.
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