Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona made something very clear at the Winter Meetings. The veteran skipper believes switch-hitting shortstop Elly De La Cruz can be one of baseball’s most dynamic stars, but he also knows he has to manage the 23-year-old differently next season. Per MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Francona acknowledged that the Reds pushed De La Cruz hard in 2025, and he intends to take a more proactive approach with the young shortstop’s workload in 2026.

“There were a lot of things going on. I think I need to take responsibility — and I have, and I will,” Francona said. “I need to find ways to get him off his feet from time to time, and I didn’t do a very good job of that… I love the fact that he wants to play, and he’s one of the rare guys where he can bring energy every day, which is really amazing… but he gets beat up so much. Sometimes the day game [off] after the night game might be really helpful for him.”

Cincinnati leaned heavily on De La Cruz last year. The former top prospect has quickly become one of the most explosive talents in the league, posting 3.6 WAR across 162 games in 2025. His season totals included 166 hits, 22 home runs, 86 RBIs, 102 runs scored and 37 stolen bases. Through his first three MLB seasons, De La Cruz owns a .255 career average, 60 home runs, 139 stolen bases and a .773 OPS, with two All-Star selections and an eighth-place MVP finish already on his résumé.

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Francona’s acknowledgment carries weight because of his stature in the game of baseball. Few managers in modern baseball have his résumé of two World Series championships in Boston, a decade of sustained success and AL Pennant in Cleveland, and a reputation for guiding young talent through early-career growing pains.

His approach with stars like Francisco Lindor and José Ramírez are good examples to point to.

“Our goal isn’t to win 83 games,” Francona added, citing Cincinnati’s 2025 win total that was just good enough for the third NL Wild Card spot. “We all got a taste of what it can feel like to pop champagne… and then the sting of getting sent home too early. I told our guys to remember both those feelings.”

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For the Reds, the plan is simple. De La Cruz will remain the centerpiece, but with a smarter and more sustainable workload in place. If Francona succeeds, the electrifying young star could be even more dangerous down the stretch in 2026.