The Reds’ Elly De La Cruz came to the rescue of a bird struggling to get off the field and brought it to safety during the fourth inning of Cincinnati’s series-concluding win against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.
“Elly De La Cruz: full-time baseball player, part-time bird whisperer,” the Reds tweeted with video.
When De La Cruz homered in the bottom half of the same inning, the Reds tweeted, “Bye bye birdie.”
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (89) catches a pass during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (89) catches a pass during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine (34) catches a pass during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals running back Gary Brightwell (32) runs the ball during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals safety PJ Jules (37) breaks up a pass meant for tight end Mike Gesicki (88) during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) and quarterback Joe Burrow (9) chat during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) drops back to hand off during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Former Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber watches practice during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals safety Bryan Cook (6) cheers after breaking up a play during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals linemen face off during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow (8) kicks a punt during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Reds players chat with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Reds players Rhett Lowder, Spencer Steer, Tony Santillan, Sal Stewart, bullpen coach Oscar Marin, and Emillio Pagan watch Bengals practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Ivey (38) breaks up a pass to wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Colbie Young (86) pulls in a pass during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals running back Kendall Milton (36) runs the ball during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) cuts with a reception during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Sal Stewart, Reds visit Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals training camp
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) bobbles pass under pressure from cornerback DJ Turner (0) during practice at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
“How about that? He does it all,” manager Terry Francona said of De La Cruz’s rescue.
Elly de la Cruz runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park Sunday, Sept. 6. It was De La Cruz’s 23rd home run and gave the Reds a 6-3 lead.
Social media reactions with video, including the funny one from the Reds after De La Cruz homered:
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elly De La Cruz turns ‘part-time bird whisperer’ during Reds’ win
