Associated Press Jul 5 2023 9:38pm ET2 Minute Read
Elly De La Cruz trolls the Nats after smashing 455ft HR
Elly De La Cruz points to his bat extension after nullifying 455-foot home run against the Nationals.
WASHINGTON — Cincinnati Reds freshman Elly De La Cruz pointed to the button on his bat after hitting a 455-foot home run against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night in a nod to the removal of a cover earlier in the game.
De La Cruz added two doubles and a homer run to give the Reds a 9-2 win, their third straight win over Washington.
Before De La Cruz led the second inning, the umpires had the bat remove an object from the end of his bat. It looked like it was an empty shell meant to carry a sensor that takes measurements on the disk.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez spoke to plate umpire Quinn Wolcott about the button piece before it was removed. Reds manager David Bell came out to discuss the situation with the referee team.
De La Cruz then struck out with a flourish.
After the umpires verified the legality of the button piece at New York, the infielder was allowed to reattach it before his second bat of the third. Major League Baseball said “the lodging” was permissible and the Nationals were told that.
After flying left in the third, De La Cruz opened the fifth with a deep right center punch to Josiah Gray. He then pointed to the tip of his racquet before circling the bases.
It was his fourth home run since his big league debut on June 6.