Reds' Elly De La Cruz will not play in 2026 WBC

Elly De La Cruz said the Cincinnati Reds did not give him permission to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic because he was dealing with a quad injury; he hopes to represent the Dominican Republic in future tournaments.

Elly De La Cruz will not play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic after the Cincinnati Reds withheld permission. He said at Redsfest that the team made the choice because he was dealing with a quad injury. De La Cruz, who turned 24 on Sunday, played in all 162 games last season but said the injury hampered his second half. He said the quad has healed during the offseason. Key facts: - The Reds did not give De La Cruz permission to play in the 2026 WBC, and he said the decision was tied to a quad injury. - De La Cruz said he wants to represent the Dominican Republic in future World Baseball Classics. - He played all 162 games in 2025, posting a strong first half (.284/.359/.495 with 18 home runs and 25 stolen bases) and a quieter second half (.236/.303/.363 with four home runs and 12 steals). - De La Cruz said the quad has healed in the offseason. - Reds manager Terry Francona said at the Winter Meetings he needs to find ways to keep De La Cruz fresh and acknowledged he could have done a better job managing his workload. - Reds closer Emilio Pagán, a past WBC participant for Puerto Rico, also said he will not take part in the 2026 tournament. Summary: The Reds withheld permission for De La Cruz to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic so the team could manage his recovery from a quad issue. This leaves his participation in future international tournaments open. Undetermined at this time.