Reds sensation De La Cruz hits for cycle in 15th career game

The rookie seems to be getting the hang of things.

Cincinnati Reds phenom Elly De La Cruz hit for the cycle Friday night against the Atlanta Braves, punctuating the achievement by roping a triple into the right-center gap during the sixth inning.

The accomplishment comes two and a half weeks after De La Cruz made his major-league debut on June 6. Friday's contest is the 21-year-old's 15th career game in the majors.

"He is not of this world," teammate and former NL MVP Joey Votto said postgame, according to Joe Danneman of FOX19.

De La Cruz is the third player in MLB history to manage a cycle within their first 15 games played, joining Cliff Heathcote (sixth career game) and Gary Ward (14th), according to ESPN Stats and Info.

It's the first cycle by a Reds player since Eric Davis in 1989 and seventh in franchise history.

At 21 years, five months, and 12 days old, De La Cruz is the youngest player to hit for the cycle since 1972. On Aug. 2 that year, Cesar Cedeno hit for the cycle while 21 years, five months, and eight days old.

De La Cruz is the fourth player to accomplish the feat this year, joining Baltimore Orioles' Cedric Mullins, Miami Marlins' Luis Arraez, and Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto.

Following the RBI triple, the Reds took an 11-7 lead against the Braves. Cincinnati entered the contest riding an 11-game win streak. Meanwhile, Atlanta also came in hot, winning its last eight straight.

The Reds wound up victorious, winning their 12th in a row and surviving a late rally from the Braves to hold on for an 11-10 victory.

De La Cruz finished the game 4-for-5 with four RBIs and a stolen base. He's now hitting .361/.418/.656 on the year with three homers and seven steals.