Ohtani: Elly's 4-hit, 4-steal game 'very impressive performance'

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was left in awe after Cincinnati Reds phenom Elly De La Cruz went 4-for-4 with a career-high four steals during Thursday's game.

"He's a really good player," Ohtani said following the Reds' 7-2 win, according to Beth Harris of The Associated Press. "And very impressive performance."

De La Cruz, who also scored three runs, now has a staggering 30 stolen bases through 44 games after reaching the mark in the fifth inning:

The 22-year-old has more steals than over half the teams in baseball this season. De La Cruz is also on pace for a total of 110, which hasn't been done since 1985.

"Every time he takes the field, an at-bat, on the basepaths, I feel like we're witnessing something special," Reds right-hander Nick Martinez said when asked about De La Cruz's performance. "His strength plays in every aspect of the game."

De La Cruz is now slashing .277/.378/.516 with nine homers, 22 RBIs, and an MLB-best 30 steals in 2024.