Elly De La Cruz has led the league in errors for two straight seasons, but the Cincinnati Reds plan to keep him at shortstop—for now. President of baseball operations Nick Krall told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that there are currently no plans to move the young star despite the emergence of top prospect Edwin Arroyo. “As of right now, no,” Krall said when asked about a possible position change.
De La Cruz committed 29 errors in 2024 and followed with 26 more in 2025, finishing well ahead of any other fielder in both seasons. While his impressive durability—appearing in 160-plus games each year—has given him more defensive chances than most players, his fielding percentage still ranked among the lowest in the league last season.
Even so, De La Cruz’s athletic ability continues to intrigue the Reds. His average throw velocity of 92.2 mph ranked in the 93rd percentile in 2025, and his range was once a major strength, as shown by his 14 Outs Above Average from 2024. However, that number dipped to -3 in 2025, signaling a significant regression.
Some have suggested a future move to center field, a path taken by other infielders with defensive struggles—most recently Oneil Cruz of the Pirates, who shifted to the outfield full-time in 2025 after racking up 24 of his 26 errors at shortstop the year prior.
Cincinnati does have internal options if a change becomes necessary. Matt McLain and Noelvi Marte both have experience at shortstop, and Santiago Espinal could fill in as a versatile backup. The addition of Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base also strengthens the infield defense and provides some leeway in determining De La Cruz’s long-term role.
Regardless of where he plays, De La Cruz remains a cornerstone of the Reds’ offense. He’s recorded 20-plus home runs and 100-plus runs scored in consecutive seasons, while stealing at least 35 bases every year—including a league-best 67 in 2024. He also posted a career-high .264 batting average in 2025, continuing to lower his strikeout rate each season.
Even with De La Cruz’s defensive woes, the Reds ranked just 11th in total errors and 21st in fielding percentage last year. With Hayes now anchoring third base, Cincinnati hopes for noticeable defensive improvement heading into 2026.
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