Before even kicking off his 2024 season, Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds is already marking significant milestones.
In a recent press conference on Wednesday, the 22-year-old hailing from the Dominican Republic took to addressing journalists solely in English for the first time.
As a native Spanish speaker, De La Cruz had previously captivated audiences with the help of his interpreter during his rookie season. Now, he’s determined to directly engage with his fans.
With a chuckle, he expressed confidence in his progress, and it’s hard to argue otherwise. In 2023, approximately one-fifth of all Americans were bilingual or multilingual, as reported by the US Census Bureau. Amidst his impressive performance in the highest echelons of baseball in North America, De La Cruz has managed to master another language.
When probed about his learning journey, he made it sound like a breeze:
Elly De La Cruz did his entire press conference in English, for the first time today.
“It’s important for the fans to understand me, and me understand the fans.”pic.twitter.com/IQOo4IIWwB
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 28, 2024
When a reporter playfully suggested that his interpreter Jorge Merlos was no longer necessary, De La Cruz responded with a grin, “I don’t need Jorge anymore.” Merlos jokingly threatened to leave, prompting De La Cruz to laugh and acknowledge, “He helped me a lot.”
Merlos has been part of the organization since he started as an intern for the Reds Community Fund in 2016. He took on translation duties for players in 2020 and has been assisting De La Cruz along with translating for All-Star relief pitcher Alexis Díaz.
The recent dismissal of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s translator Ippei Mizuhara following allegations of “massive theft” serves as a contrast.
Reds manager David Bell sees De La Cruz’s efforts to learn English as emblematic of his character. This determination isn’t surprising considering the Reds embraced the moniker “America’s Team” last season, reflecting their collective confidence, with De La Cruz playing a central role.
Since his call-up from Triple-A Louisville last June, De La Cruz has been making waves. Standing tall at 6-foot-5, he immediately left his mark by smashing a home run, setting a remarkable precedent with one of the hardest-hit Reds balls in recent memory.
During his rookie campaign, De La Cruz boasted a .235 batting average with 13 homers, 67 runs, and 35 stolen bases across 98 games.
The Reds, including De La Cruz, are gearing up to take on the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park for Opening Day on Thursday.
