Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Electric shortstop accomplishes something not done since Deion Sanders

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/30/24

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz not only leads MLB in stolen bases with 18, but he's singlehandedly racked up more steals than over half of baseball's 30 teams.

De La Cruz is also approaching a certain former two-sport star's mark for most thefts before May 1.

Elly De La Cruz has 18 stolen bases, the most before May 1 since Deion Sanders in 1997

The @Reds star has more steals than 16 MLB teams this season. pic.twitter.com/3P1kVzFoGB
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 30, 2024

Fresh off his 1996 Pro Bowl campaign with the Dallas Cowboys, Deion Sanders signed with the Reds in February 1997 for his second stint with Cincinnati.

"Prime Time" showed no rust from not having played baseball in 1996, posting a career-high 127 hits and 169 total bases in 1997, as well as a .273/.329/.363 slash line over a career-high 465 at-bats. Sanders' 56 steals also shattered his previous best mark.

He was particularly aggressive on the basepaths in April, racking up 19 stolen bases during the month while only being caught twice. Sanders was a menace on the bases during a 15-5 loss against the Atlanta Braves, registering a career-best four steals during the contest.

De La Cruz burst on the scene as a rookie last summer, finishing the season with 13 home runs, 44 RBI and 35 stolen bases across 388 at-bats covering just 98 games.

He appears well on his way to passing last season's stolen base total and perhaps, the Pro Football Hall of Famer's high mark of 56 as well.

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