Confirmation that Elly De La Cruz is actually human is spotty at best. I mean, everything about him says “I am actually a human,” but then he does something like this and you have to question it.
On Sunday afternoon a routine pickoff attempt became one of the most exciting plays of the day as De La Cruz saw the smallest possible opening and decided it was worth going for it. The pickoff attempt was muffed, rolling into the shallow outfield, which was all Elly needed to know he could make a play.
Getting one base off this was impressive enough, but making it home from second was simply unbelievably.
Haters will point out that he’s only batting .230 this season, but it’s largely immaterial. Every week he’s able to make plays that define games in unexpected ways. whether it’s turning his arm into a cannon to throw someone out — or like this play, putting rockets on his cleats and scoring when nobody else could.