The star of the Cincinnati Reds, Elly De La Cruz, worked hard during the offseason to get better at speaking English. On Thursday, March 28, before the Reds’ home opener against the Washington Nationals, he gave a stunning all-English press conference to showcase his newfound abilities.

One of baseball’s most exciting prospects, De La Cruz made his major league debut last year at the age of 21, and he already had 35 stolen bases, 44 RBIs, and 13 home runs. De La Cruz and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals were both timed as the quickest players in Major League Baseball in 2023.

Speaking to the media before the 2024 season began, De La Cruz showed off the intelligence that goes along with his extraordinary talent by doing the whole news conference—for the first time in his career—in English.

De La Cruz stated, “It’s very important to me because you guys can now understand what I’m saying. It’s also important for the fans to understand me and for me to understand the fans.”

Speaking with the other guys, he remarked, “I practice every day,” referring to his Cincy colleagues.”I just got started with them, so I moved on. I enjoy conversing with the boys from America because I give them confidence.

He laughed and said, “I don’t need Jorge [his interpreter] anymore,” adding, “He helped me a lot.”

It will be difficult for De La Cruz and the Reds to make the playoffs this year because the bookmakers presently have them finishing third in the National League Central, behind the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals, who are the favorites.

With pitcher Frankie Montas in the circle for the Reds 2024 season opening, De La Cruz will bat sixth for Cincinnati.