The Red shortstop went on the injured list with a right hamstring strain on June 1. Andy Lyons / Getty ImagesJune 16, 2026 3:57 pm EDT Updated CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is expected to begin his rehab assignment Friday with the Triple-A Louisville Bats and could return as soon as June 23 for the Reds’ series against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, according to Reds manager Terry Francona.De La Cruz, who went on the injured list with a right hamstring strain on June 1, will run the bases in Cincinnati again Tuesday and Wednesday before traveling to Georgia, where the Bats will play the Gwinnett Stripers, the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate.The plan is for De La Cruz to travel to Gwinnett on Thursday, play five innings Friday night, serve as designated hitter on Saturday and finish with a full game at shortstop on Sunday.
The Reds are 4-9 in De La Cruz’s absence entering Tuesday’s game against the New York Mets. They are 2-13 this season against the NL Central and have yet to play the Brewers, who enter Tuesday leading the second-place St. Louis Cardinals by 4 1/2 games and the last-place Reds by 10 games.Francona said that as much as the Reds wanted their shortstop to return as soon as possible, they also didn’t want to rush anything.“We need to do the right thing,” Francona said Monday. “It’s not a lot of fun doing the right thing, but it’s the right thing.”The Reds could also get right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson back this week. Johnson is scheduled to pitch Thursday for the Bats and could join the team in New York as soon as Friday, Francona said.Johnson went on the IL with right elbow inflammation on May 30. Johnson threw to Reds hitters Monday before the team’s game against the Mets.Closer Emilio Pagán (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Tuesday and could face batters Friday in New York.
