There have been expectations surrounding Alfredo Duno from the get-go.
He was No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list in 2023 and the Reds paid the catcher accordingly, giving him a $3.1 million bonus to sign. When Duno posted a .944 OPS during his debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, it raised the expectation bar even higher. The Reds couldn’t wait to see what he could do in the United States for the first time in 2024.
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Duno was advanced enough to skip over the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and head to full-season Daytona and held his own out of the gate at age 18. But after a .789 OPS over 32 games, he fractured a rib, knocking him out for the rest of the season.
“The 2024 season was pretty tough because of my injury,” Duno said. “But I knew it was a challenge I had to face. I worked hard, gave it my all, focused on 2025, and thank God, I got good results.”
That’s an understatement. Now the Reds’ No. 2 prospect (MLB No. 48), Duno hit .287/.430/.518 back in the Florida State League, leading the league in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS (.948) and home runs (18), still as a teenager. His 164 wRC+ trailed only the top two prospects in the game, the Pirates' Konnor Griffin (MLB No. 1) and the Tigers' Kevin McGonigle (MLB No. 2), among all Minor Leaguers. Now Duno is playing in the same league as McGonigle as a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions. He’s gotten used to being one of the youngest players on a circuit, and he seems to be approaching the age difference with the right mindset.
“There’s respect for every pitcher, every pitcher who stands on the mound,” Duno said. “But I always go out there to give it my best. I know I'm young. I know the guys are older than me, but I always go out there to compete. That's my challenge.”
It’s also a challenge trying to develop on both sides of the ball. It’s hard enough to climb the ladder as a hitter, but adding in the responsibilities behind the plate can make it really tough for young backstops. It’s something Duno is facing head on.
“Being a catcher and hitter is obviously a tough challenge, but I enjoy catching because you kind of feel in control of the game,” he said. “It’s a really good challenge and I enjoy it.”
Reds hitters in the Fall League
Cam Collier, 1B/3B (No. 6/MLB No. 94): Collier won the 2024 Futures Game MVP and hit 20 homers for High-A Dayton at age 19, raising the expectations bar for this season. But he suffered a thumb injury in Spring Training on a tag play just as he was making the transition to first base. That required surgery and he didn’t play until his rehab began on May 19. He showed off a good approach in reaching Double-A, but the power hasn’t returned yet.
Leo Balcazar, SS/2B (No. 23): Balcazar has long shown a propensity for contact and has completely shaken off his lost 2023 season due to a torn ACL. He cut down his strikeouts and upped his walk rate considerably while reaching Double-A for the first time a month after he turned 21, hitting a career-high 12 homers in the process. He continues to show he can play both middle infield positions.
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Reds pitchers in the Fall League
Rhett Lowder, RHP (No. 5/MLB No. 80): Lowder made it to the big leagues in his first year of pro ball, throwing well over six starts late in 2024 after being the club’s first-round pick in 2023. But he went just 9 1/3 total innings in the Minors this year due to a forearm strain and then an oblique injury. He’s looking to use this Fall League stint to turn the page.
Luke Hayden, RHP (No. 30): An 2024 eighth-rounder out of Indiana State, Hayden spent all year with High-A Dayton as a starter with uneven results. After a solid two opening months, the right-hander struggled, especially with his command. He held hitters to a .228 batting average, but walked 6.4 per nine. He made his first AFL outing in relief, and that might be the right spot for him since his fastball-slider combination could play up.
Johnathan Harmon, RHP: The Reds are hopeful Harmon is on the upswing following his 2024 Tommy John surgery. The 2022 draftee came back from his rehab and threw well in Dayton, with a fastball that touched 97 mph headlining a four-pitch mix he was landing for strikes. More innings in the AFL are a perfect part of his progression.
Trevor Kuncl, RHP: After four years at George Washington University, Kuncl spent three seasons toiling away in independent ball before the Reds signed him in October 2024. Now 26, he spent the year with Double-A Chattanooga, where he led the Southern League with 20 saves. He can run his fastball up into the upper 90s, but he really leans heavily on his upper-80s slider.
Hunter Parks, RHP: An eighth-round pick out of the junior college ranks in 2021, Parks was moving a level at a time until the injury bug (elbow sprain) hit after eight starts at Double-A in 2024. He returned to the level this April, transitioning to a relief role and pitched his way to the Minors' top level. Command is an issue (career 6.4 BB/9 rate), but he has a fastball that averaged 96 mph and touched 99 this season to go along with breaking stuff that can miss bats.