Elly De La Cruz and his parents are mourning the death of Elly’s sister, Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez.
Despite learning about the death of his sister, Elly De La Cruz took the field anyway at Wrigley Field on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
And in the bottom of the sixth inning, he found a way to honor his sister on the field.
De La Cruz hit a two-run homer in the 6th inning, which marked his 12th of the season and the 50th of his career. As he made his way home after hitting the dab with his 3rd base coach, he pointed up to the sky and flashed a heart.
He also wrote a message to his sister on his hat before the game. The home run put the Reeds on the board for the first time Sunday and cut the Cubs’ lead to three.
The Cubs, though, added two more runs in the seventh and powered ahead with a 7-3 win.
De La Cruz’s sister, Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez, died on Saturday in the Dominican Republic after a long battle with multiple health issues.
It’s unclear when De La Cruz learned of his sister’s death, but some of his teammates reportedly didn’t know about it just a few hours before Sunday’s game started.
Elly De La Cruz’s Parents Supported Him In Achieving His Athletic Dreams Despite Their Poverty
Born on January 11, 2002, in Sabana Grande de Boya, Dominican Republic, Elly De La Cruz, 24, shares a close bond with his parents, Carmin and Antonio De La Cruz.
Despite their poverty, Elly’s parents supported him in achieving his dream of becoming a baseball player.
His parents were unable to watch Elly’s MLB debut game at the Great American Ball Park. However, they saw the historic moment from their home in the Dominican Republic.
As per MLB.com, Elly wears a gold-plated locket with a photo of his parents. It reminds him of growing up in the Dominican Republic.
It also reminds him of when his mother, Carmin, told him that no matter how far his baseball career goes, she’d always be proud of him.
During the interview with Julio Morillo, Elly praised her mother’s support by stating,
“I just want to give everything to her,” “She’s why I’m here, and I want her to feel proud of me.”
Elly De La Cruz
Elly De La Cruz Grew Up With His Eight Older Siblings
Elly De La Cruz has eight siblings, including a twin brother, Pedro, and one sister, Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez. The other six siblings have stayed out of the media spotlight.
Earlier, the Braves’ broadcast showcased Elly and Pedro and their height difference, but a picture of Pedro flipping the bird was accidentally shown, which went viral.
According to some sources, Pedro operates a car wash back home in the Dominican Republic. He also opened a Boutique in the city of Sabana Grande de Boya.
6’5 Elly De La Cruz has a 5’8 twin brother Pedro pic.twitter.com/pVgmrhAhoE
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 9, 2025
On the other hand, Elly’s sister, Genelis De La Cruz Sanchez, was a mother of two.
Sadly, Genelis passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2025, after an extended period of health issues.
A report from Z101 Digital also stated that Genelis had been struggling with ongoing health problems.
Elly and Pedro are currently mourning the tragic death of their sister, Genelis.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Playing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 16, 2024, De La Cruz became the first MLB player since Ichiro Suzuki in 2012 to record four hits and four stolen bases in a single game.
- On July 7, 2024, De La Cruz was named as a reserve player in the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
- He was announced as a cover athlete for MLB The Show 25 and became the first Reds player to be a cover athlete for an MLB: The Show title.
