Elly De La Cruz’s return to Reds after 3 weeks with hamstring strain could shake up mix
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Elly De La Cruz was 2-for-8 with a walk, three strikeouts and a homer in his three-game rehab assignment. Andy Lyons / Getty Images
By C. Trent RosecransJune 23, 2026 Updated 1:46 pm EDTCINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds activated shortstop Elly De La Cruz on Tuesday ahead of their game against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
De La Cruz, 24, was placed on the IL with a strained right hamstring after leaving the May 31 game against the Atlanta Braves when he came up limping while approaching first base on a single. The last-place Reds went 7-12 in his absence and fell from six games out of first place in the division to 10 1/2. They are now three games out of a wild-card spot.
De La Cruz was 2-for-8 with a walk and three strikeouts in his three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville this past weekend. He hit a 441-foot home run in his second plate appearance. On Monday, De La Cruz returned to Cincinnati and took live batting practice against injured closer Emilio Pagán, who is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for the Bats on Thursday.
ELLY DE LA BOMB 💥 pic.twitter.com/mCKgzOfadb
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) June 19, 2026
Also rehabbing with the Bats is right-hander Hunter Greene, who was named the team’s Opening Day starter before leaving his first spring training start in February with elbow soreness. Greene had loose bodies removed from his right elbow and has yet to pitch for the Reds this season.
An All-Star in 2024, Greene made his first rehab appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League last Thursday, allowing a pair of hits and a walk with six strikeouts in four innings. He threw 54 pitches with 39 strikes in the start. If all goes as planned, Greene would start again Sunday for the Bats and could be activated as soon as July 3 to start against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park.
To make room for De La Cruz, the Reds optioned outfielder Will Benson to Triple-A Louisville. The 28-year-old is hitting .188/.310/.333 with three home runs this season and has appeared in 51 of the Reds’ 77 games with 28 starts, 24 of those in right field.
The Reds’ outfield has been in flux for most of the season, with several players getting chances to play every day. JJ Bleday, who started the season in Triple A, has assumed the team’s everyday role in left field. Blake Dunn, who also started the season with the Bats, has started 16 of the team’s 19 games this month, primarily in center field. Noelvi Marte, who began the season as the Reds’ primary right fielder, was optioned to Triple A after a slow start and is hitting .267/.313/.556 since returning on June 3.
By sending Benson out, the Reds are left with two left-handed bats — Bleday and first baseman/DH Nathaniel Lowe — in addition to a pair of switch hitters, De La Cruz and infielder Edwin Arroyo.
With the return of De La Cruz, Arroyo could be used as more of a utility player and late-inning defensive replacement and could battle Matt McLain for playing time at second base. McLain started at shortstop for 16 of the Reds’ 19 games without De La Cruz. He was hitting .196/.294/.320 through May, but since De La Cruz went on the IL, he’s hit .222/.344/.463 with three home runs.
Arroyo, 22, was called up when De La Cruz went on the IL and made his big-league debut on June 1. Arroyo was hitting .190/.255/.214 through his first 15 games, but a four-hit day against the New York Yankees on Saturday helped raise his numbers. He went hitless in the series finale in New York and didn’t play Monday, leaving him at .240/.304/.280 entering Tuesday’s game. Arroyo has primarily been a shortstop in the minors and mostly played second base in the majors. He also has experience at third base, but has not played there for the Reds.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
