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    Aristides Aquino (Photo: Doug Gray)
    Photo: Doug Gray

    Reds prospect Aristides Aquino hits a 455-foot homer

    Doug Gray 18

    Aristides Aquino has long been known for his power, and for his power potential. He first really started to show that off back in 2014 as a 20-year-old when he hit 16 home runs in 71 games. After a down 2015 season that included some injuries, he came back and hit 23 home runs (and 26 doubles to go with 12 triples) in Daytona. At 6′ 4″ tall and 220 lbs, he’s got long levers and he’s got some strength. This season, though, he’s taken his power to another level. With Triple-A making the switch to the Major League Baseball the 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic has taken full advantage of a baseball that is flying. Tuesday night saw him hit his 22nd homer of the season in just his 65th game played for Louisville. And man, did he ever hit it.

    That baseball came off of the bat at 112 MPH. That baseball went an estimated 455 feet according to the Pawtucket announcer. It was absolutely annihilated.

    For Aristides Aquino, as noted above, it was his 22nd homer of the year. He’s now hitting .298/.357/.624 on the season for Triple-A Louisville. He was removed from the 40-man roster in the offseason and became a free agent. But he immediately re-signed with the Reds for the 2019 season.

    The right fielder has spent a little bit of time in center this season for Louisville of late. Since June 22nd he’s played center field five different times. Before this season I wouldn’t have ever thought he could be a guy that would play in center. But with the Reds playing Jesse Winker in center field every so often this year, to quote Kevin Garnett, anything is possible! With all of the hit data available and teams being much better at positioning players, defensive abilities and requirements are changing just a little bit. Aquino is still going to be a corner outfield type, but it seems the Reds are at least seeing if it’s possible he could cover center field in certain scenarios.

    After the season, Aristides Aquino will be a free agent. That is, of course, unless the Reds add him to the 40-man roster. There’s some question about just what the baseball is doing for hitters in Triple-A and just how to evaluate the new numbers. It can’t be understated that trying to compare 2019 numbers to past ones shouldn’t be done. But comparing the numbers to the league? There’s still some value there.

    The International League has a line of .267/.343/.451 this year. That’s a .794 OPS. The Bats team OPS is just .778 this season. That’s up quite a bit from last year when the league as a whole hit .252/.320/.389. The OPS has jumped 84 points with the new baseball. That’s an incredible jump. But, Aristides Aquino has an OPS of .981. His OPS is nearly 200 points better than the league. While he, like nearly everyone, is benefiting some from the new baseball, he’s doing a lot more than most others in the league.

    While there isn’t room for him in Cincinnati right now, if he continues to do what he’s done, don’t be surprised if he’s back with the Reds in September. And don’t be surprised if he heads into spring training next year as a contender for a corner outfield spot.

    Fidel Castro homers twice for the AZL Reds

    Yes, the Cincinnati Reds have a prospect named Fidel Castro. Get your jokes out of the way now.Last season he split time between the Dominican Summer League Reds and the Arizona League Reds. The season began in the DSL where he hit .262/.404/.516 in 35 games. Cincinnati liked what they were seeing and brought him stateside at the end of July, where he finished out his season. He hit .315/.413/.519 in 17 games to round out his season.

    This year he’s back in the Arizona Rookie League playing for the Reds. And last night he had the first multi-homer game of his career. The 20-year-old went deep in both the 1st and 3rd innings against the Brewers Blue squad, finishing up the game going 3-3 with 2 walks and those 2 home runs. That’s pushed his line on the season, through 17 games, to .323/.377/.613.

    Doug Gray
    Doug Gray is the owner and operator of this website and has been running it since 2006 in one variation or another.

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    18 Responses

    2. !!!!!

      That baseball stopped rolling in the parking lot because it had a big flat spot on it I bet.

      Doug- Aquino has long levels or limbs? Autocorrect?

      1. Levers.

        I’m sick. I’m using that as an excuse, though it’s not one. Day three of having a cold in July is under way and I am not thrilled about it.

    3. He was impressive when I saw him playing for Billings (vs Orem UT) in 2015. Visually (physically) reminded me of Eric Davis. If he can hit MLB pitching, he will find OF or other job somewhere (if not with Reds).

    4. It seems less and less likely that we are serious contenders this year. With this in mind, I really think we need to trade Puig and Gennett and see who is for real with these 3A guys (O’Grady, Aquino, Van Meter). If we want to contend next year, we can’t afford to enter the year with a bunch of question marks.

      1. I agree on Aquino getting a chance, Puig while a good team mate at present would best help the Reds to bring in a prospect or two. His spot would go to Aquino who can play or platoon in right field. Gennett I would mind moving but who is going to take a guy coming off a two month injury and batting .154 or something like that. I agree that this team isn’t going anywhere this year so lets see what we have. As far as the starting pitching, trade anyone not named Castillo or Gray. The problem is we don’t have much in the way of starters with the exception of Sims, Packy Naughton or Scott Moss and the Reds do not promote from double A to the majors.

      2. Big Bob will not allow it.
        Bob will meddle again, and the best the Reds will do is a QO on Puig.
        With a 3 WAR (about), he would still be worth it.

        1. I’ve quoted this article before. It’s Daugherty’s interview with Castellini in April 2018:

          “He said vehemently that he does not interfere with the baseball operation. He interrupted the question. “Do you feel you’ve been too involved in baseball op…’’
          “No. It’s bull. We make decisions collectively. When we meet, we all give our opinions. I will come in and say, this is what I think we ought to do. If I don’t get a lot of opposition, we make the decision based on what I say. I do not get overly involved in our operations.’’”

          This has always given me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. It makes me think of Mike Brown and the Bengals.

    5. What you have to like about Aquino is that he is only striking out 22% of the time. That is just as good as Senzel showed in AAA.

      I hope people do not fall in love with Puig with this hot streak. He has been a streaky hitter. Reminds me of Dunn and Bruce where they can be red hot or ice cold. Puig is looking to be about a 2.2 war player this year assuming a .823 ops the rest of the way.

      I would like to trade Puig and give Aquino a chance in RF.

    6. Reds are gonna give puig 20 mill for 4 or 5 years and be the highest bidder for his services. Get use to him- he’s gonna be here for a while.

      I do hope aquino gets a chance though. Seems to have turned a corner in his progression and has a very high ceiling. Judge was never a top prospect in baseball either- he just turned a corner right before getting a chance to be a major leaguer. Aquino has that same potential.

      1. I think you’re right that the owners are hoping to use Puig to market a losing team and keep making money.

    7. Time to release Hernandez. He is brutal. How do you keep a guy with a 6.90 era and say you are a playoff contender?

      1. How do you continue to bring him in before Lorenzen, Stephenson, Hughes, & Bowman, while the game is still winable? Put him on the IL or let him mop-up games where the Reds are behind at least 3 runs.

        1. Do David Hernandez and David Bell have a past of being friends?

          Because every 10 appearances, Hernandez gets another $100K, per his current contract.

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