“I’m learning Japanese to talk to Shohei,” said Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, referring to MLB’s highest-paid baseball star in history Shohei Ohtani. However, what the 22-year-old didn’t know was he’d soon rub shoulders with his idol. While a full-blown conversation between the two is yet to happen, the young player’s unprecedented success put his name in the annals of history forever…

Belonging to a small town in the Dominican Republic, Sabana Grande de Boya, Cruz discovered his love for baseball very early on. As he continued using tennis balls and rubber balls to practice, at merely six years old, the young boy moved out of his family home to pursue a career in the sport. He stayed with his coach’s brother and dreamed of owing a baseball jersey one day. His mother was the one person who always reminded him how proud she was. And, since then, the player has had a new goal: “I just want to give everything to her…She’s why I’m here, and I want her to feel proud of me.”

In 2018, De La Cruz got his big break—well, sort of. He signed with the Reds as an international agent that year, but it wasn’t until the Reds’ post-draft camp in 2021 that he earned a spot with the team’s Single-A affiliate, Daytona Tortugas. And since then, things have only been on an upward graph. The latest instance? As the ‘Holy Grails’ auction kicked with the sale of an Ohtani baseball card, on Tuesday night in Harlem, it was a special night for the prodigy as well.

It marked off the first live auction collaboration between Fanatics Collect, the collectibles arm of a global sports giant, and Sotheby’s. Ohtani’s one-of-a-kind 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire Autographs Superfractor rookie card went for a mind-blowing $336,000, surpassing his previous records as well. But hold on, because Elly De La Cruz just broke Ohtani’s record with a staggering sale of his own. Can you guess how much?

As per athletic’s post Elly De La Cruz’s 2022 Bowman Chrome 1st Bowman Prospect Autograph Superfractor just shattered expectations, selling for a whopping $360,000. With his incredible gameplay and powerful streak, it’s no wonder he was able to do this. Shohei Ohtani is undeniably unstoppable this season, but Elly De La Cruz is busy cementing his own legacy, too. Did you know he’s the fastest runner in baseball, leads the league with 65 steals, and is by far the fastest-rising star in the sport today?

As we roll into the final week of the 2024 season, Elly De La Cruz is sporting some impressive numbers under his hat. The shortstop is currently hitting .261, boasting an on-base percentage of .343 and a slugging percentage of .476. With 25 home runs and 74 RBIs, talk about making those cards worth every penny. And there are records the 22-year-old has already set. Rising through the minor leagues, a remarkable transition to the MLB has taken place. Elly is the first shortstop in MLB history with 25 or more home runs, 65 or more stolen bases in a season, and so much more.

What ties both of the shortstops together?

Additionally, this rising star is only the fourth player since 2000 to rack up 90 or more combined home runs and stolen bases in a single season. He is also tied at 90 with José Reyes’s mark from 2007. The 22-year-old is only behind Shohei Ohtani’s 108 this season and Ronald Acuna’s 114 from 2023.

Even though Elly’s card topped, Dodgers shortstop Ohtani’s card still holds its ground, surpassing the previous record of $312,000 for an Ohtani trading card set in December 2021. And get this—the same card that sold Tuesday night went for just $62,730 in October 2021 and a mere $4,800 back in May 2019. It’s clear: Every season, his popularity skyrockets.

Speaking of notable card auctions, a one-of-a-kind 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card featuring both Michael Jordan and Julius Erving just sold for a staggering $780,000.

Coming back to baseball, many factors tie both shortstops together – powerful streak and fan love for merch are just two of the list. While it’s evident that the 2024 season for Elly has been great, the main question is: Will Elly De La Cruz manage to sustain this early rise into long-term baseball stardom just like his idol? It looks promising right now, but the Cincinnati Reds have to stay steady. What do you think? Share below.