Elly De La Cruz’s 2025 campaign will likely be remembered by many fantasy managers for an extended power drought that stretched 74 games from late June through mid-September, a span in which he managed only 1 home run.
Even with that prolonged slump, he still finished the year with 22 home runs, though the overall production represented a step back from his standout sophomore season with the Cincinnati Reds. The raw tools remained evident, but the inconsistency created volatility that was difficult to manage in fantasy baseball points leagues.
What to Expect from Elly De La Cruz in 2026 Fantasy Baseball
De La Cruz continues to profile as one of the most dynamic athletes in baseball, combining elite speed, explosive bat speed, and defensive range that keeps him on the field every day. He again led the league in errors, which has sparked ongoing discussion about his long-term future at shortstop, but his athleticism ensures he will remain in a premium defensive role somewhere on the diamond.
On the basepaths, he still ranked seventh in Major League Baseball with 37 stolen bases, though that total fell from 67 the previous year. The decline highlights both reduced aggressiveness and the natural fluctuation that can come with speed-dependent value.
From a hitting standpoint, De La Cruz showed measurable improvement in his strikeout rate early in the year, but many of those gains faded during the second half as his struggles intensified. After the All-Star break, he posted a .666 on-base plus slugging (OPS) alongside a 28.2% strikeout rate (K%), underscoring the need for more consistent plate discipline.
His strengths remain clear: elite athleticism, game-changing speed, and power that can surface in bunches, particularly in a hitter-friendly home environment. His weaknesses center on swing decisions, contact consistency, and the volatility that accompanies a profile built heavily on physical tools rather than a refined approach.
Looking ahead to 2026, De La Cruz enters his age-24 season with a ceiling that few players can match. If he stabilizes his strikeout rate and sustains incremental improvements in pitch recognition, another 25-plus home run season with 35 to 45 steals is well within reach.
However, the weekly scoring swings in points formats will remain tied to how effectively he controls the strike zone and whether defensive adjustments or a positional shift influence his offensive rhythm.
As far as the shortstop hierarchy for fantasy baseball points leagues, I rank him at Tier 1 only under Bobby Witt Jr. and higher than Gunnar Henderson, Francisco Lindor, and Trea Turner.
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