Elly De La Cruz is a name that has been buzzing in the baseball world lately. The 21-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic made his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds on June 7, 2023, and immediately showed why he was considered the top prospect in the game.

In his first week in the big leagues, De La Cruz hit for the cycle, stole a base, hit a 458-foot home run, and made several dazzling plays in the field. He became only the second player since 1900 to have a single, double, triple, homer and stolen base within their first three games¹. He also helped the Reds win four of their first six games with him in the lineup.

De La Cruz has been drawing comparisons to some of the best players in baseball history, such as Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, and Fernando Tatis Jr. He has a rare combination of power, speed, defense, and charisma that makes him a joy to watch on and off the field²³⁴.

But is he a solid player to collect in the hobby of sports cards?

The answer is yes, but with some caveats.

First of all, De La Cruz’s cards are already very expensive and hard to find. His first Bowman Chrome autographed card from 2022 is selling for thousands of dollars on eBay, and his other rookie cards are also in high demand. His 2022 Bowman Chrome Red Lava Refractor Auto /5 BGS 9.5 Reds RK card has 274 watchers and 61 bids on eBay as of now². His cards are likely to get even more expensive as he continues to perform well and gain more popularity.

Secondly, De La Cruz’s cards are also very risky. As impressive as he has been so far, he is still very young and inexperienced. He could face injuries, slumps, adjustments, or other challenges that could affect his performance and value. He could also face competition from other talented players in his position or league. Baseball is a very unpredictable sport, and no player is guaranteed to have a long and successful career.

Thirdly, De La Cruz’s cards are also very subjective. Collecting sports cards is not only about investing or making money. It is also about enjoying the hobby and having fun. Some collectors may prefer other players or teams over De La Cruz or the Reds. Some collectors may prefer other types or brands of cards over Bowman Chrome or Topps Now. Some collectors may prefer other sports or hobbies over baseball or sports cards.

Therefore, whether De La Cruz is a solid player to collect in the hobby of sports cards depends on your personal preferences, goals, and budget. If you are a fan of De La Cruz or the Reds, or if you are looking for a potential superstar with high upside and excitement, then he may be a great player to collect. But if you are looking for a safer or cheaper option, or if you are not interested in him or his cards at all, then he may not be the best player to collect.

Ultimately, collecting sports cards is a personal decision that should be based on your own research, judgment, and enjoyment. Elly De La Cruz is one of the most exciting players in baseball right now, but he is not the only one. There are many other players and cards that you can collect and enjoy in this hobby.

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List of sources & refrences for this post: Is Elly De La Cruz a solid player to collect in the hobby of sports cards? 1. baseball-reference.com 2. msn.com 3. chron.com 4. foxnews.com 5. thestar.com 6. en.wikipedia.org