Héctor Rodríguez may have a power grade of 45, but he also possesses elite hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball skills. That paid off three times over and in three different ways on Wednesday.
The Reds' No. 5 prospect flexed three times on a four-hit day in Triple-A Louisville’s 10-5 win over St. Paul at Louisville Slugger Field. It was the third multihomer game of Rodríguez's pro career, and his first time with three long balls.
In his first at-bat, after falling behind in the count 1-2, the 22-year-old went up in the zone and crushed a 94 mph four-seamer from right-hander Mike Paredes (Twins). The blast left his bat at 104.6 mph and didn't clear the fence in right-center field, but Rodríguez raced around the bases for an inside-the-parker.
After a lining a single to right in the third, Rodríguez’s power surge resumed in the sixth. Climbing the ladder again, he turned on a 95.5 mph four-seamer by righty Alejandro Hidalgo and tomahawked a solo homer 394 feet over the wall in right-center.
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To cap off the career day, Rodríguez showcased his ability against left-handers by sending a two-strike sweeper from Kody Funderburk onto the roof above the bullpen beyond the wall in right at 105.3 mph. The homer gave the Bats a lead they would not relinquish.
The 5-foot-10 outfielder has hit .295 against southpaws this season. His two homers in 61 at-bats against lefties is one short of the three he hit in 151 at-bats between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville in 2025.
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The four-hit game was an extension of the strong month Rodríguez has had. In 21 games, he's batted .307 with an .855 OPS. He ranks inside the top 10 of the Cincinnati system in hits (27, sixth), home runs (five, fifth), and slugging percentage (.511, 10th).
Rodríguez's .486 slugging percentage is on pace to be his highest since posting .536 in 2022, the majority of which was spent in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League prior to the Reds' four-player Trade Deadine deal with the Mets for Tyler Naquin.
Rodríguez originally signed as an international free agent in 2021 with New York. After hitting .315 last June and .316 in July and posting career highs for the year -- 19 homers, 92 runs, 65 RBIs -- Cincinnati added him to the club's 40-man roster during the offseason.
The Reds' outfield is currently a bit crowded with playing time split among a slew of players -- Spencer Steer, JJ Bleday, Dane Myers, Will Benson and TJ Friedl. Rodríguez will press the issue of whether room can be made for him if he continues to deliver at the plate at such a brisk pace.