CINCINNATI -- Elly De La Cruz has always had a firm grip on his place in the Majors since his dazzling debut in 2023.
But on Friday afternoon, for a fleeting moment that changed.
Facing Braves reliever Dylan Dodd, De La Cruz swung and missed on an 87 mph cutter down-and-in. In the process, he lost the grip on his Torpedo bat on strike three to end the eighth inning.
The result: It landed in the protective netting about 20 feet above the Braves dugout, where it remained for the rest of the game, won by the Reds, 3-2, at Great American Ball Park.
“I wouldn't want to be the one standing underneath that in the dugout,” Reds manager Terry Francona quipped.
The bat was removed by stadium operations crews after the game, all in one piece and ready to be used again. Maybe next time, De La Cruz will add a touch more pine tar.