Cincinnati Reds All-Star Elly De La Cruz pulls off franchise first Monday vs. Rockies

Anyone who thought Elly De La Cruz might slow down after getting selected for his first All-Star Game needs to seriously think again.

In the first inning of the first game after his All-Star selection was announced, De La Cruz pulled off a Cincinnati Reds franchise first Monday with a walk and steal of second, followed by a steal of third.

Already, the major-league leader in stolen bases, De La Cruz became the first Red to reach the All-Star break with at least 45 steals.

With six games and eight innings to go before the break.

Until Monday, Billy Hamilton had the franchise record with 44 before the 2015 All-Star break.

De La Cruz singled in his second plate appearance of the Reds' 6-0 victory Monday over the Colorado Rockies, but before he had a chance to get another steal, Jeimer Candelario singled as De La Cruz took off for third, and the All-Star shortstop wound up on third. He and Candelario later scored for a 2-0 lead in the fourth.

After a lineout his third time up, he doubled home a run for a 4-0 lead in the eighth, and before he could try to steal third his very presence at second lured an errant pickoff throw that gave him the extra base for free.

He then scored the Reds' fifth run on a chopper to the pitcher (not a typo).

"For Elly to make it on that play, I mean that's unbelievable," manager David Bell said.

"Elly did it all today," Bell added. "He's had a lot of good ones this year. That was at the top of what we've seen from him all year, just in all areas of the game."

Asked Sunday whether fans can expect him to try to steal if he reaches base at the All-Star Game, De La Cruz said, "We will see."

Seems like we already know.