Aristides Aquino

Position: RF
Level: Double-A
Affiliate: Pensacola Blue Wahoos
League: Southern League
Born: 04/22/1994 (Age: 29)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 190
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: Signed as international free agent 1/18/11 (CIN)

Prospect Spotlight

The Reds signed the now-24-year-old out of the Dominican Republic for just $115,000 in 2011.  The 6’4,” 220-pound slugger has performed well as a pro, putting up noteworthy power totals with a sprinkling of stolen bases. His strikeout totals have jumped against high-minors pitching since reaching Double-A in 2017, and the power has come at the expense of contact. I saw him this July with Pensacola in the Southern League.

Aquino is a specimen, big and strong with average footspeed. His braun holds back his swing, which is long and stiff, and he’s particularly vulnerable low and inside. The swing length requires an early trigger, but Aquino was able to lay off decent spin out of the zone. Instead, he tends to miss on quality pitches in the zone or get under them. His feel to hit gives some hope but I project a 30-grade hitter—albeit with plus raw power—getting to average homerun outputs over a full season because he’s able to punish mistakes to all fields. Aquino has prototype RF size, athleticism, and arm-strength, grading out to a future 55 glove and 60 throw tool.

Realistically, I project Aquino to a FV 45 platoon role. His hit tool prevents everyday impact, but the power and defense are enough to profile against lefthanded pitchers and as a defensive replacement on the outfield corners.