Elly De La Cruz's .855 OPS Is Back and The League Is NOT Ready For It

Alright, Emerald City, listen up! You know that feeling when one of your key guys goes down? Well, imagine that, but then the dude comes roaring back like a runaway freight train. That's what's happening today in the baseball world, as Elly De La Cruz, the human highlight reel, is officially back from the injured list! This isn't a drill, folks. After straining his right hamstring on May 31, he's been activated and is ready to get back on the field. You love to see a star return, especially one hitting a mind-blowing .280 with an .855 OPS and 12 dingers in just 58 games before his first-ever big league IL stint. Get ready, baseball fans, because Elly is here.

The Hamstring Hero's Fast Track Return

Hamstring strains are nasty, but Elly De La Cruz wasn't having any of it. He went on the IL on June 1, and now, just weeks later, he's back. He didn't just sit around. He tore up a three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville this past weekend. He crushed a bomb on Friday while playing five innings at shortstop. Sure, a couple 0-for-3 games and an error on Sunday, but rehab is about knocking off rust. The fact he's back this fast, after putting up those insane numbers earlier this season, tells you everything about his drive. This guy is electric, and the game is better with him in it.

Pagán's Bullpen Grind and Brutal Honesty

More injury news: Closer Emilio Pagán, sidelined since May 5 with a left hamstring strain, is making serious progress toward his own return. Pag

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án threw his first live batting practice at Yankee Stadium last Friday, but felt even better during Monday's session. He faced Elly De La Cruz, Will Benson, and Dane Myers, hitting his limit at 25 pitches. Pagán even had his walk-out song, "Kingdom," blaring, treating it like a one-run game. He said, "I’m attacking anybody who’s in the box, to be honest. But obviously, Elly is one of the best players on the planet. And facing him is an honor...I don’t take that lightly.” Elly tagged him for a hard-hit ball to right field. Pagán’s take? "Elly hit one hard. He does that against a lot of people, so I don’t really feel that bad to be honest." Pagán, 35, has had a tough go this season with a 6.43 ERA and six saves in nine chances. That's a stark contrast to his career-high 32 saves and 2.88 ERA from last year, when he was brought back on a two-year, $20 million deal. But he felt his stuff was "better than New York," with improved command on his offspeed pitches. The team also got high-leverage reliever Pierce Johnson back from right elbow inflammation, so the bullpen gets reinforcements. So, what's next for Pagán? If he's feeling good after Monday's session, the plan is a rehab assignment in Louisville this Thursday. He's hoping it's "just one game," itching to get back to the big league mound. With Elly De La Cruz back in action and Pagán close behind, the league better be ready. It's a long season, but these kinds of comebacks can totally shift the vibe. This is what we live for, right? The grit, the grind, the return of our favorite players. Let's see what happens next!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.