Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz played his first game with the controversial torpedo bat on Monday in a 14-3 win. The shortstop erupted for a four-hit night that included a pair of home runs.
De La Cruz finished a triple shy of the cycle. He racked up 11 total bases and seven RBIs. Questions surrounding that experimental equipment immediately surfaced.
The 23-year-old infielder entered the contest against the Rangers homerless and hitting .272 across 11 at-bats. He more than doubled his season hit total in that latest performance.
De La Cruz cranked two 400-foot bombs, the last of which traveled 436 feet and left the bat at over 110 MPH.
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(@mlb)Elly De La Cruz had not used the torpedo bat in his opening series against the Giants. He was one of many players looking to get their hands on the controversial club after watching the Yankees blast 15 dingers across three games with the equipment.
The bats have a new design that’s shifted the weight from the barrel to other areas. The dimensions fall within MLB guidelines, but they’ve been criticized by both fans and players.
Milwaukee pitcher Trevor Megill blasted their usage after watching his teammates bullied by the Bronx Bombers in their first three games. Brewers pitching surrendered 36 runs while getting swept in the series.
“I think it’s been terrible,” Megill said after a nine-homer performance from New York. “But it’s the Yankees so [the MLB] will let it slide.”
With doubts as to whether the league will ban the torpedo bats, hitters outside of the Big Apple are beginning to test them out for themselves.
De La Cruz spoke on the equipment after his monster performance. He said the Yankees’ success had no impact on his switch. He simply wanted to see how it felt in the batter’s box. “It feels good. It feels really good,” he stated. He hadn’t hit with it until taking his batting practice session on Monday.
Now, De La Cruz has pop. He hit 25 home runs a year ago. Still, his latest showing drew concerns.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona defended his star player amid criticism. He said the player is more important than the bat, itself.
“I think it’s more the player than the bat. I meant that before the game, and I still do.”
-Terry Francona
Elly De La Cruz laughed when asked if he’d continue using the torpedo bat. Most took that as a resounding “yes” given his two-homer output on Monday.
The bats will continue to be put under a microscope with the power numbers increasing. Pitchers have voiced concerns, but for now, the bats are here to stay.
The post Cincinnati Reds Manager Defends Elly De La Cruz After Crushing Two 400-Foot HRs With Torpedo Bat appeared first on BroBible.
Cincinnati Reds Manager Defends Elly De La Cruz After Crushing Two 400-Foot HRs With Torpedo Bat
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