Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz ran the bases and took infield grounders Monday as he works back from a right hamstring strain, with a Major League Baseball rehab assignment possible this weekend if the next steps go smoothly.
ESPN/AP reported that De La Cruz has been sidelined since June 1 and could be sent out for a rehab assignment if the Reds like how the next couple of days unfold. Manager Terry Francona said the likely destination would be Triple-A Louisville, which is playing at Gwinnett this week.
De La Cruz Still Has One More Running Check
The Reds did not turn Monday's running work into an immediate roster move. De La Cruz is expected to run the bases again Tuesday before the club makes a final decision on whether to start the rehab assignment.
That matters because the injury is tied to one of his defining baseball tools. De La Cruz left Cincinnati's May 31 game against the Atlanta Braves with right hamstring tightness after a fifth-inning base hit, and the Reds have handled the return path with visible caution.
Francona indicated that competition level makes Triple-A attractive, though logistics remain part of the decision. Cincinnati's Class-A affiliate in Dayton is also away from home this week, according to ESPN/AP.
Reds Lost An Everyday Shortstop On June 1
De La Cruz's absence has already interrupted one of the cleaner markers of his early career. His streak of 276 consecutive games ended when he went on the injured list, the sixth-longest run by a Reds player in the expansion era since 1961.
The streak began July 30, 2024, and had made De La Cruz a fixture in Cincinnati's lineup. Before the injury, he was batting .280 with 12 home runs.
The Reds have not announced a major league return date. The practical update is narrower and more useful: he has advanced to running bases, he still needs another test, and a minor league assignment is now on the table.
Francona Keeps The Timeline Cautious
Francona's comments to ESPN/AP pointed to the balance Cincinnati is trying to strike. The Reds want De La Cruz back, but the manager said the club has talked with him several times to make sure he knows they are listening while still doing what they believe is right medically.
For Cincinnati, the next decision is not just whether De La Cruz feels ready to play. It is whether the Reds believe the hamstring has responded well enough to handle game speed, especially for a player whose value is tied so closely to movement.
That leaves Tuesday's running work as the next real checkpoint. If it goes well, Louisville could be the bridge between De La Cruz's injury layoff and a Reds lineup that has been waiting since the start of June.