Elly De La Cruz's return from the injured list turned into a nightmare almost immediately. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop came back from IL this week and promptly suffered a new left ankle sprain, the team confirmed Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The injury is a significant blow to a Reds club that desperately needs its most dynamic player healthy — a player who hit .264 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, and 37 stolen bases across 162 games in 2025 and recently became the youngest Reds player in 126 years to reach 150 career steals.

What Happened: De La Cruz Goes Down Again

De La Cruz returned from his original IL stint earlier this week, but the relief was short-lived. A new left ankle sprain has sidelined him again, sources confirmed to MLB.com and Cincinnati Reds Media Relations. The exact timetable for this second injury has not been announced, but a repeat ankle sprain raises legitimate concern about how quickly the 23-year-old can return to full strength.

Why This Matters for the Reds

There is no sugarcoating this. De La Cruz is the engine of Cincinnati's offense. His combination of speed — a .822 stolen base percentage in 2025 — plus 22 home runs from the shortstop position makes him irreplaceable in the lineup. Losing him twice in quick succession is as painful as it gets for this roster.

The timing is particularly rough. Chase Burns is maintaining a perfect record with 116 strikeouts heading into the All-Star break, and Sal Stewart is closing in on Frank Robinson's franchise rookie home run record. There is genuine momentum on this club. De La Cruz being out strips away a critical piece of what makes this offense dangerous.

What We Know Right Now

  • De La Cruz returned from IL this week and suffered a new left ankle sprain
  • The injury is confirmed by MLB.com, Charlie's Chalkboard, and Reds Media Relations
  • No official return timeline has been announced
  • De La Cruz posted a .336 OBP and .776 OPS in 162 games in 2025

The Reds will need answers at shortstop while the front office monitors De La Cruz's recovery closely. More updates as they come out of Great American Ball Park.