Elly De La Cruz will travel on Wednesday to the Dominican Republic following the death of his sister

Cincinnati, USA. Cincinnati Reds' Dominican shortstop, Elly de la Cruz, will travel this Wednesday to the Dominican Republic to meet with his family following the death of his older sister, Genelis de la Cruz Sánchez, who was battling a prolonged illness.

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The team manager, Terry Francona, reported that De la Cruz decided to continue playing until the last game of the current series against the Milwaukee Brewers, scheduled for Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, before taking his bereavement leave.

“Freddie [Benavides] and I spoke at length with him on Sunday in Chicago. We gave him all the options, but he expressed his desire to play until Wednesday and then leave,” Francona stated. “His mother is very affected, and he wants to be there to support her.”

Despite the personal pain, De la Cruz played on Sunday against the Chicago Cubs, hitting two hits, including a two-run home run, in tribute to his sister. On his spikes, he wrote the message: “RIP Manita”.

With that home run, Elly de la Cruz reached the mark of 50 home runs in his career, becoming the fifth youngest player to achieve it in franchise history since 1900. In the current season, he leads the team with 12 home runs.

The Reds organization expressed its full support for the player during this difficult time. According to MLB rules, bereavement leave allows for an absence of between three and seven days, during which time the team can replace the player on the active roster.

Elly remained present at the clubhouse on Monday, participated in pre-game practices, but chose not to offer public statements, prioritizing her privacy and that of her family.