Bobby Witt Jr. has a convincing edge over the Reds' rising star Elly De La Cruz

Would you rather have a Lamborghini or a Ferrari? That’s basically the same as being asked if you would rather have Kansas City Royals franchise player Bobby Witt Jr. or Cincinnati Reds rising superstar Elly De La Cruz on your team.

Both are exciting and dynamic players that look to be two of the best shortstops in all of baseball for years to come. Both players even have tremendous pop in their bat and top-end speed to go alongside it. You couldn’t go wrong with either player.  

However, it is honestly still shocking to even be having this discussion in 2026. Just last season, Witt was hands down the best shortstop in the league, and it wasn’t even really particularly close.

Now, this isn’t an article to convince you that Witt didn't regress at the plate this season. Instead, it’s more about how far De La Cruz progressed in such a short time. He took a massive leap forward in his development in 2026, which was obvious by his 30/30 season. With that said, there are two aspects to both players' game that still gives Witt a clear edge.   

As noted by Scott White of CBS Sports, one of those aspects is how often they each strike out. Throughout the 2026 season, it was clear Witt had a much better command of the strike zone. In 558 at-bats this season, Witt struck out just 109 times, good for a 17.3% strikeout percentage. That put him in the top third of all qualified hitters. Meanwhile, De La Cruz was sat down 175 times in 559 at-bats, the 12th highest amount in the league. 

If you play fantasy baseball, you probably already know all about the trials and tribulations of rolling with the best lineups day in and day out across the entire MLB schedule. You also have a good idea just how costly a strikeout can be over the course of that 162-game schedule. One strikeout a game from a player might not seem like a lot, but they can quickly add up and detract from your score. In games decided by a point or two, those strikeouts can be backbreakers. 

In the real world, those strikeouts can be just as costly at times. By not putting the ball in play, a hitter can stop a rally dead in its tracks and prevent their team from picking up crucial runs in close games. Throughout a full season, losing those close games can make the difference between making the postseason and sitting at home in October. 

Just based on his ability to put the ball in play, Witt maintains his convincing edge over De La Cruz. But that’s not all.  

Bobby Witt Jr. and his complete game offer the Royals something more

With two separate players with different play styles and approaches at the plate, who strikes out less isn't quite enough to determine who is definitively the best. Instead, you have to look at their entire game as a whole. With a career-high OPS of .880 in 2026, De La Cruz was a force at the plate this season for the Reds. On top of his 30/30 season, he also added 30 doubles. That’s about as much as you could ask from your franchise player.

Then you have Witt and a year at the plate that saw a drop in production in just about every major offensive category. Yet here we are still talking about how good he truly is. You know that you’re doing something right when an .800 OPS season is considered a down year for you. That’s exactly what happened to Bobby Witt Jr. in 2026.

What pushes Witt into a class of his own is the work that he does with his glove. When his bat took a step down from previous seasons, he upped his game and put together a defensive clinic that will likely earn him his third consecutive gold glove. Witt led all shortstops with 24 Outs Above Average in 2026, besting De La Cruz by 17. 

Not to be outdone, Witt was also ranked fifth in league among shortstops with 8 Defensive Runs Saves. By comparison, De La Cruz had -8 DRS for the Reds. Not only does Witt boast a great range at the position, but he saves far more runs for the Royals by playing rock solid defense overall. For a player experiencing a down year at the plate, the glove is the best way to still provide value to your team. 

The gap between Witt and De La Cruz may have gotten much closer over the last 12 months. But the Royals superstar has a substantial advantage when it comes to his approach at the plate and the work he puts in on the defensive end.

Witt will look to have a strong bounce back year at the plate in 2027, so maybe that gap will widen once again. Who knows, maybe he’ll even get over that final MVP hurdle?   

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow