The most thrilling man in baseball

Описание: On July 8, 2023, Cincinnati Reds rookie Elly De La Cruz delivered a breathtaking display of speed and baseball acumen against the Milwaukee Brewers. In the top of the seventh inning, with the game tied at 5–5, De La Cruz hit a two-out RBI single off reliever Elvis Peguero, giving the Reds a 6–5 lead.  

What followed was a sequence rarely seen in Major League Baseball:
1. Steal of Second Base: On a 1–1 pitch, De La Cruz stole second base.
2. Steal of Third Base: On the very next pitch, he took off for third, swiping the bag without a throw.
3. Steal of Home Plate: As the Brewers’ defense momentarily relaxed, De La Cruz seized the opportunity. Noticing that pitcher Peguero had his back turned after receiving the ball from catcher William Contreras, De La Cruz sprinted home, sliding in safely before a rushed throw could arrive. 

This remarkable feat made De La Cruz the first Reds player since Greasy Neale in 1919 to steal second, third, and home in the same inning. 

De La Cruz’s performance was a key factor in the Reds’ 8–5 victory over the Brewers, a win that extended their lead in the National League Central division.


In the 2023 MLB season, stolen bases experienced a significant resurgence, largely due to new rules designed to promote base running. These included larger bases, a pitch timer, and limitations on pitchers’ pickoff attempts, all contributing to a more dynamic and aggressive style of play on the basepaths. 

🥇 Top Stolen Base Leaders in 2023

According to FOX Sports, the leading base stealers for the 2023 season were:
1. Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves) – 73 stolen bases
2. Esteury Ruiz (Oakland Athletics) – 67 stolen bases
3. Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks) – 54 stolen bases
4. Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals) – 49 stolen bases
5. CJ Abrams (Washington Nationals) – 47 stolen bases
6. Nico Hoerner (Chicago Cubs) – 43 stolen bases
7. Ha-Seong Kim (San Diego Padres) – 38 stolen bases
8. Julio Rodríguez (Seattle Mariners) – 37 stolen bases
9. Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati Reds) – 35 stolen bases
10. Willi Castro (Minnesota Twins) – 33 stolen bases
  

📈 League-Wide Impact

The rule changes led to a notable increase in stolen bases across the league. By mid-season, MLB had recorded its 3,000th stolen base, putting it on pace for approximately 3,457 steals by season’s end. This would mark the second-highest total in the Live Ball Era (since 1920), trailing only the 1987 season.  

The emphasis on speed and base running not only energized the game but also introduced new strategic elements, making stolen bases a more prominent and exciting aspect of baseball in 2023.