Reds’ Elly De La Cruz leaves vs. Braves in 5th inning due to hamstring tightness, will get MRI

By: Jeff Wallner, The Associated Press Posted: 2:13 PM CDT Sunday, May. 31, 2026 Last Modified: 4:26 PM CDT Sunday, May. 31, 2026

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CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz left Sunday's 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves with right hamstring tightness after singling to right center in the fifth inning.

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CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz left Sunday's 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves with right hamstring tightness after singling to right center in the fifth inning.

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CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz left Sunday’s 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves with right hamstring tightness after singling to right center in the fifth inning.

De La Cruz will undergo an MRI on Monday.

“When I was making the turn to get to first, I felt tightness in my hamstring and immediately decided to stop because I felt like if I keep going it could get worse,” De La Cruz said, via interpreter Tomas Vera.

Cincinnati Reds' Elly de la Cruz rounds third base as he scores on a double hit by JJ Bleday during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Cincinnati, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

With the Reds leading 3-2, De La Cruz sent a ball into the gap against Braves starter Spencer Strider. The contact normally would have gone for a double, but De La Cruz grimaced as he reached first base and stopped. He walked off the field on his own after meeting briefly with training staff.

“He feels like he caught it before it did anything worse,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “Saying that, we’re going to get him scanned at 9 in the morning and we’ll know more.”

De La Cruz has appeared in 276 consecutive games, the sixth-longest streak for a Reds player in the expansion era (since 1961). His streak began on July 30, 2024.

“I don’t believe it is something bad. I really don’t,” De La Cruz said. “We’ll see what the MRI says tomorrow. I don’t feel that bad. I don’t know if I’ll be playing tomorrow. I don’t like to be out of the game.”

Prior to the injury, De La Cruz was 2 for 2 with two runs scored and a walk. He’s batting .280 with 12 home runs this season.

“He’s the heart and soul of this team,” Reds left fielder JJ Bleday said. “When everyone thinks Reds right now they’re thinking Elly De La Cruz. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb