Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes swapped autographed memorabilia with Reds star Elly De La Cruz
Given the Chiefs-Bengals rivalry, there probably aren’t many people in Cincinnati who own an autographed Patrick Mahomes jersey.
But Reds rookie shortstop Elly De La Cruz will be bringing that special keepsake back to the Queen City.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer, De La Cruz got the jersey as part of an autograph swap with Mahomes.
De La Cruz, 21, gave Mahomes an autographed bat and ball. The inscription on one of the items from De La Cruz included the boast “fastest man in the world,” which he said about himself during a weekend series in St. Louis.
Although he’s played in just nine games this season since being called up from the minor leagues, De La Cruz has flashed the speed and power that made him a top-10 prospect in Major League Baseball.
De La Cruz has caught the eye of Mahomes, an avid sports fan who was at Kauffman Stadium on Monday for the Royals’ Chiefs Night celebration.
Wittenmyer said Mahomes asked De La Cruz to write the “fastest man in the world” inscription (perhaps to show former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill).
But Jim Day of Bally Sports Cincinnati said the idea for the special inscription came from De La Cruz’s teammates.
“Patrick Mahomes was here for Game 1. Now, he requested an autographed bat and ball from Elly De La Cruz and Elly De La Cruz obliged,” Day said on the air during Wednesday’s game. “And from some prodding from a few teammates actually signed the inscription, ‘Fastest Man in the World’ with his signature. So Mahomes (is) getting both of those items.”
The Reds have won seven of nine since De La Cruz was promoted and they are just 1 1/2 games back in the National League Central. De La Cruz batted .364 with a 1.118 OPS in his first six games in the majors, but the Royals shut him down.
De La Cruz was hitless in 12 at-bats and grounded into two double plays during the three games in KC. But De La Cruz came away with a nice keepsake, even though he’s not a football fan and had only watched Mahomes a few times.
“Just in the Super Bowl,” De La Cruz told the Enquirer.
