The injury bug has plagued the Cincinnati Reds during the 2026 season. They currently have 10 players on the IL, including several key pieces like Hunter Greene, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Graham Ashcraft. With how much of the roster is injured, it’s a miracle that the Reds are still two games above .500. But things got worse for the Reds on Monday, June 1st, when it was announced that Elly De La Cruz was being placed on the 10-Day IL. The shortstop suffered a hamstring strain in the Reds’ 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
This could not have come at a worse time for the Reds. Cruz has been the best bat for the Reds all season. In 58 games this season, he has slashed .280/.345/.509 with 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 133. He was a major reason the Reds were able to overcome all the injuries they suffered this season. But with him on the shelf, this team has a lot more question marks surrounding it. Can they replace Cruz’s production, and will they be able to remain competitive with his injury as they have with others?
Will the Reds be Able to Replace Elly De La Cruz’s Production?
While we do not have a timeline for Cruz’s return, we know who will be replacing him. With him going on the IL, the Reds have called up Edwin Arroyo from Triple-A Louisville. According to MLB Pipeline, Arroyo is the third-best prospect in their system and the 98th-best prospect in baseball. He has also been one of the best bats at the Triple-A level this season. In 53 games this season, he has a slashline of .323/.383/.562 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.
As exciting as it is to call up a big-time prospect like Arroyo, you can not expect him to save the season. Arroyo should be able to provide the team with competitive at-bats and speed. Two of the main things that Cruz did so well. But there will be an adjustment period for Arroyo. It’s going to take him a couple of weeks to adjust to big league pitching. If you put the pressure on him to perform as well as Cruz did, that will make things worse. He will press and may enter a long slump that hurts his development.
Arroyo is a nice piece to pair with one of the big leaguers who steps up in Cruz’s absence. Sure, guys like Sal Stewart, JJ Bleday, and Spencer Steer have all played well. But none of them can do what Cruz has done. Stewart is still considered a rookie, plus Bleday came out of nowhere, and there is no guarantee he will maintain this level of production. With these types of questions about the lineup, they need someone to provide the protection that Cruz did and continue to guys like Stewat and Bleday pitches to hit.
The best guy to take this spot is Eugenio Suarez. Suarez is coming off a great 2025 season and was one of the Reds’ big moves this offseason. But it has not been a great start to Suarez’s second stint in Cincinnati as he has dealt with injuries and underperformance. If Suarez is able to play at the level they expected, it will help the Reds tread water. They could also use guys like Matt McLain, TJ Friedl, or Tyler Stephenson to play closer to their career averages. A big way to keep the Reds afloat without Cruz.
The Reds have a big task ahead of them in trying to replace Cruz. They need the veterans to play as they have in the past; the Reds will quickly fall out of contention.
