Aquino the most interesting player in Reds’ camp
GOODYEAR, Arizona — As he rounded the bases, Aristides Aquino looked just like he did in August 2019.
On Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers, he hit a home run in the ninth inning to cut the Cincinnati Reds' deficit to one run. Aquino pulled the ball over the left field fence in the direction of the scoreboard far past the outfield wall, and “The Punisher” homered like he did 14 times in August 2019.
It was his first home run of the spring as he competes for a spot on the roster and a chance to stay in the organization.
“If he makes this team, hopefully we get him consistent playing time and starts, but there's also a possibility he's going to be coming off the bench,” manager David Bell said. “There's obviously all aspects of the game, but he's a talented player.”
The Reds announced Wednesday that Aquino wouldn't have another minor league option. As a result, if he doesn't make the team out of spring training, Aquino will be placed on waivers.
“I don't think I have an opportunity to make a choice of what happens next,” Aquino said through translator Jorge Merlos. “The only thing I can control is whatever I put out on the field.”
Aquino entered the spring as a leading candidate to be the fifth outfielder, but a significant change to his batting stance didn't produce immediate results. On Wednesday, he raised his spring batting average to .281 and his OPS to .956. But Aquino has had an upand-down spring so far.
According to Bell, Aquino's turnaround began with a double against the Padres on Tuesday. Aquino entered that game with a .214 batting average this spring. In the ninth inning, he worked a long at-bat, fouling off multiple pitches to stay alive. Then he hit an RBI double to left, showing why he could be a valuable right-handed pinch-hitter this season.
On Wednesday, Aquino turned a long at-bat into an RBI line-drive single. One batter later, Aquino tried to advance home on a double, and the throw home beat him by about two seconds.