Alfredo Duno didn’t look like a player who missed nearly a month of action prior to Wednesday’s performance.
MLB’s No. 22 prospect had not taken the field since July 29 due to a right hamstring strain that landed him on the injured list. He doubled twice and singled in Double-A Chattanooga's 3-2 win over Columbus at Erlanger Park. It was the sixth time this season that Duno produced at least three hits in a game.
The 20-year-old picked up where he left off during an impressive season in which he has posted a slash line of .272/.395/.519 between High-A Dayton and Chattanooga. The Reds’ top prospect sports a .958 OPS in 19 games since his promotion.
Duno has already surpassed his career high with 19 homers by one. The 55-grade thump along with a 60-grade arm behind the plate makes him the third-ranked catching prospect in the game.
COMPLETE REDS PROSPECT COVERAGE
The No. 4 international prospect prior to the 2023 signing period, Duno signed as a free agent out of Venezuela. He jumped right into the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and hit .303 with a .944 OPS. Although a broken rib limited him to 32 games in 2024, he bounced back last season at Single-A Daytona. His well-rounded approach at the plate was apparent with 18 homers, more walks (95) than strikeouts (91) and a .948 OPS.
After bouncing back from injury without missing a beat for the second time in three years, Duno is well positioned for to finish his campaign strong in a system that boasts some of the best catching depth in the Minors, largely because of him.