Ken Griffey Jr. on Reds shortstop and National League All-Star reserve Elly De La Cruz: "The fun part is when he gets on base."
National Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., a former Moeller High School standout and Cincinnati Reds outfielder, was asked during an MLB All-Star Game red-carpet interview on MLB Network what he likes about National League All-Star reserve and Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz's game.
"He has all aspects - hit, run, throw," Griffey said. "The fun part is when he gets on base. I start laughing because I'm over there alright like - I do a little wagering with my friends on how many pitches it's gonna take for him to steal. But, the funny thing is, I'm like, 'Four.' They're like, 'No, uh uh.' I said, 'Plus, they're gonna throw over once or step off once.' So we do a little game inside the game, because I'm trying to teach my friends the new style of baseball. They're older guys, and sometimes they don't understand the new generation and how they're playing. It's a different game."
Earlier in the day, De La Cruz was among the subjects Junior, a credentialed photographer at many recent sporting events, photographed.
MLB Network showed a photo Junior took of Elly.
"That's a great photo!" De La Cruz said.
From MLB Network via Twitter/X:
Elly De La Cruz arrived in style with the CEO of H2O, Ken Griffey Jr.!
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 15, 2025
The @Reds speedster highlights his Red Carpet fit this year and his fashion sense.
MLB Network x @DeerParkWtrpic.twitter.com/JH7vThjJu4
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ken Griffey Jr bets on Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz's stolen bases
Category: Baseball
