Baseball cards have long been a way for fans to connect with their favorite players through collecting, trading, and appreciating the history of the game. For Dominican outfield prospect Elly De La Cruz, his baseball cards are starting to gain attention from collectors as he rises through the minor league ranks of the Cincinnati Reds organization.
De La Cruz signed with the Reds as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July 2019. Considered one of the top international prospects of that signing period, the Reds gave De La Cruz a $2.7 million signing bonus, showing how highly they valued his athleticism and potential. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing around 180 pounds as a teenager, De La Cruz possessed an ideal frame that was still filling out. Scouts were impressed with his raw power potential at the plate along with his speed, defensive abilities, and strong arm in the outfield.
While signing bonus figures can provide early hype for prospects, De La Cruz still had a long road ahead of developing his skills in the minor leagues. His first baseball cards started hitting the market in 2020 as part of international prospect sets. In these early cards from brands like Bowman, Topps, and Panini, De La Cruz’s stats are blank as he had yet to make his professional debut. The cards offered the first glimpses of his potential and established him in the collecting world before he had played a single game.
De La Cruz got his first taste of on-field action in 2021 as he joined the Reds rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League. In just 34 games, he slashed .296/.354/.479 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI, showing off the tools that made him such an intriguing prospect. This breakout season led to De La Cruz receiving wider distribution in sets like Topps Series 2 and Bowman Draft from that year, as collectors started taking notice of his abilities. While the sample size was small, his cards from 2021 provided early stats to match the tools-filled scouting reports.
In 2022, De La Cruz took another step in his development by getting assigned to Low-A Daytona in the Florida State League at age 19. Though he struggled at times adjusting to full-season affiliated ball, De La Cruz still flashed a high ceiling. Across two levels totaling 93 games, he hit .297 with 17 home runs, 68 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. These impressive stats, combined with more experience under his belt, made De La Cruz one of the most sought-after prospects in the minors. As a result, his baseball cards skyrocketed in demand from collectors.
Prized rookie cards from De La Cruz’s 2022 season include standouts from Topps Series 1, Bowman Draft, Bowman Chrome, and Topps Opening Day. With vibrant photos showcasing his tools and statistics reflecting his breakout campaign, these cards established De La Cruz as a star in the making. On the secondary market, PSA 10 and BGS 9.5 gem mint examples of his prized rookies now sell for hundreds of dollars, a massive rise in value from just a few years prior. The demand shows how collectors recognize De La Cruz’s elite talents and want to get in early before he potentially reaches the majors.
Heading into 2023, De La Cruz is listed as the Reds’ top overall prospect and one of the best in all of baseball according to scouting publications. After holding his own in full-season ball as a teenager, expectations are high that he will continue developing at an accelerated rate. De La Cruz was assigned to High-A Dayton to start the season, where he will face older competition but in a less grueling environment than jumping straight to Double-A. If he produces like many expect, a midseason promotion could be in store.
As De La Cruz takes the next step forward in his career, collectors and fans will be tracking his progress closely. His baseball cards provide a tangible way to connect to a rising star. Should he continue developing and reach the majors on schedule, early cards from his minor league days will gain immense nostalgia and value in retrospect. For now, as De La Cruz looks to further validate his status as one of the game’s top prospects, his cards remain some of the most sought-after on the hunt lists of savvy collectors. With the talent and hype surrounding him, Elly De La Cruz has all the tools to one day become a household name – and his early cardboard could prove to be shrewd long-term investments.
