This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/8/2023
The Bat is labeled 9-22-22 with heavy use and pine tar. The bat is cracked with his signature Sensor that was removed with ring and prong evidence. In 2022, De La Cruz played for the High–A Dayton Dragons (where his three triples tied for fourth in the Midwest League) and Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts (where his six triples were eighth in the Southern League, his 20 home runs were second, and his 28 steals tied for fourth).[10] He was chosen to represent the Reds in the All-Star Futures Game. In 121 games, he hit .304/.359/.586 with career–highs in home runs (28), RBIs (86), and stolen bases (47; while being caught six times). He was the first minor league player since George Springer in 2013 to bat .300 with at least 25 home runs and 40 stolen bases.[9] He was an MiLB Organization All Star, a Midwest League Post-Season All Star, and the Midwest League Prospect of the Year. He was also named the Reds' Minor League Player of the Year, Baseball America's Reds Minor League Player of the Year, and Minor League Baseball's Top Prospect in the Midwest League.[9] Baseball America polled managers who rated him the Midwest League's most exciting player, best batting prospect, best power prospect, and fastest base runner. On November 15, 2022, the Reds added De La Cruz to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.