Elly De La Cruz is picking up right where he left off. The Cincinnati Reds phenom got his spring training off to the best start possible Saturday, as he crushed a high-flying solo home run in the first inning of an exhibition matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.

In the Cincinnati Reds ' Cactus League opener against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark, De La Cruz homered in his first two at-bats. Both were solo shots to approximately the same spot on the grass berm in left-center field.

Reds manager Terry Francona plans to opt out of elective participation in the automated ball-strike challenge trial during spring training but is willing to let Cincinnati's minor league players accustomed to the procedure use challenges.

Reds manager Terry Francona plans to opt out of elective participation in the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge trial during spring training, but is willing to let Cincinnati's minor-league players accu