Elly De La Cruz will remain at shortstop in 2026
by Bruno Mulé | Reds Correspondent | Tue, Nov 11th 9:46am EST
The Reds plan to keep Elly De La Cruz at shortstop next season, according to Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati. Despite leading the majors in errors in each of his two full seasons, the 23-year-old will stay put for 2026. After posting a plus-14 Outs Above Average mark in 2024, De La Cruz dropped to minus-3 in 2025, fueling speculation of a possible position change. However, the Reds are not considering a move to the outfield and instead intend to give him more rest days and occasional starts at designated hitter to keep him fresh. (Charlie Goldsmith)
Fantasy Impact:
This news locks De La Cruz into shortstop eligibility for another season, preserving his value in fantasy lineups. While his defensive inconsistencies remain, Cincinnati’s plan to manage his workload could help his offensive consistency after a sluggish second half in 2025. He remains one of the most dynamic fantasy options at the position, capable of elite speed and power when locked in.
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