If you're looking for a high-voltage addition to your Diamond Dynasty squad, April Spotlight Lightning Elly De La Cruz is the one to grab. The Cincinnati Reds shortstop (94 OVR) put on a show in April 2026, hitting 8 home runs in the month alone and 10 overall since opening day. That tied a franchise record for the most homers before May 1. On top of that, Elly went on a 14-game hitting streak from April 16 to April 30, making him the perfect pick for your April Spotlight Lightning player.
How to Collect Elly De La Cruz
To get your hands on Lightning Elly, you'll need to work through the April Spotlight Program. Here's the breakdown:
- Collect Drops 1–5 player cards in the April Lightning Collection, which is found under Spotlight Collections.
- Drop 1: Kevin McGonigle
- Drop 2: Jo Adelli
- Drop 3: Jhoan Duran
- Drop 4: Mike Trout
- Drop 5: Ben Rice
- Complete the Collection to unlock Lightning Elly De La Cruz.
This is your chance to add a historic April performer to your squad and dominate both online matchups and CPU games. Don't sleep on this—Elly's speed, power, and hitting streak make him a game-changer.
Fastest Way to Unlock Lightning Elly De La Cruz – MLB The Show 26
1. Check Program Requirements Daily
Each Drop may have different challenges. Log in every day and complete the easiest tasks first, like playing a few innings or winning a game.
2. Use Higher Difficulty for More Rewards
Playing on All-Star or Legend difficulty gives better XP and stats per game. If you're confident, this speeds up hitting, pitching, and fielding challenges.
3. Play Conquest or Ranked Online
Stats from any game mode often count. Conquest games and online ranked matches are quick ways to accumulate hits, strikeouts, or innings.
4. Leverage Stubs for Packs
If you have MLB 26 Stubs, buy April Spotlight packs to complete Drops faster—especially useful if you're missing just one or two players.
5. Team Up with Friends
Co-op games make some missions easier. Focus on hitting or pitching while your teammate handles other stats.
6. Track Progress Regularly
Use the Spotlight Collection tracker to see what's left. This prevents repeating tasks you've already finished and saves time.
