It's long been said that the Double-A level is often the one that separates the men from the boys. Many prospects have stumbled there, with how they learn from that adversity and adjust a key to what kind of player they become. The Reds will be watching to see how Aquino handles all of that after really struggling in the Southern League in 2017.
Aquino still has tremendous raw tools. Despite his struggles, he still hit for power and played a strong right field with very good speed and a plus arm that runners didn't want to test. Facing more advanced pitchers, however, didn't go so well overall. Aquino saw a steady diet of breaking and offspeed pitches and he never adjusted to it. He's always been an aggressive hitter, but his strikeout rate spiked with his inability to recognize softer stuff.
The good news is Aquino's raw tools still give him a chance to succeed. He'll have to show that he can make adjustments, not just from last year's struggles, but from game to game and at-bat to at-bat. How he does that will determine if he can be one of those prospects who can run the Double-A gauntlet and move forward. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2018 5 0 0 .000 .000 100.0 0.0 2019 896 147 20 13.6 87.9 18.2 .250 .501 .360 .334 .431 39.0 26.7 7.1 ALL 901 147 20 13.6 87.9 18.2 .249 .499 .359 .333 .431 39.0 27.0 7.1 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 11/20/2019 OF Aristides Aquino assigned to Tigres del Licey. 08/01/2019 Cincinnati Reds selected the contract of RF Aristides Aquino from Louisville Bats. 06/06/2019 Louisville Bats activated RF Aristides Aquino from the temporarily inactive list. 06/03/2019 Louisville Bats placed RF Aristides Aquino on the temporarily inactive list. 05/18/2019 Louisville Bats activated RF Aristides Aquino from the 7-day injured list. 04/23/2019 Louisville Bats placed RF Aristides Aquino on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 22, 2019. Right shoulder sprain. 01/09/2019 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Louisville Bats. 12/01/2018 Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RF Aristides Aquino to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 11/30/2018 RF Aristides Aquino elected free agency. 11/20/2018 Tigres del Licey placed OF Aristides Aquino on the reserve list. 10/13/2018 OF Aristides Aquino assigned to Tigres del Licey. 10/01/2018 Cincinnati Reds recalled RF Aristides Aquino from Chattanooga Lookouts. 08/25/2018 Cincinnati Reds optioned Aristides Aquino to Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 08/17/2018 Cincinnati Reds recalled Aristides Aquino from Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 06/13/2018 Pensacola Blue Wahoos activated RF Aristides Aquino from the 7-day disabled list. 06/06/2018 Pensacola Blue Wahoos placed RF Aristides Aquino on the 7-day disabled list. Right knee injury. 04/04/2018 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos from Louisville Bats. 03/09/2018 Cincinnati Reds optioned RF Aristides Aquino to Louisville Bats. 10/02/2017 Cincinnati Reds recalled RF Aristides Aquino from Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 04/06/2017 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos from Louisville Bats. 03/29/2017 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Louisville Bats from Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 03/15/2017 Cincinnati Reds optioned RF Aristides Aquino to Pensacola Blue Wahoos. 11/18/2016 Cincinnati Reds selected the contract of Aristides Aquino from Daytona Tortugas. 04/04/2016 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Daytona Tortugas from Dayton Dragons. 03/04/2016 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Cincinnati Reds. 12/21/2015 OF Aristides Aquino assigned to Leones del Escogido. 07/15/2015 Dayton Dragons activated RF Aristides Aquino from the 7-day disabled list. 06/28/2015 Dayton Dragons sent RF Aristides Aquino on a rehab assignment to Billings Mustangs. 04/25/2015 Dayton Dragons placed RF Aristides Aquino on the 7-day disabled list. abdominal strain 04/08/2015 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Dayton Dragons from Billings Mustangs. 03/05/2015 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Cincinnati Reds. 08/18/2013 RF Aristides Aquino assigned to Billings Mustangs from AZL Reds. 06/01/2013 Aristides Aquino assigned to AZL Reds from DSL Reds. 05/28/2011 Aristides Aquino assigned to DSL Reds. 01/18/2011 Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RF Aristides Aquino to a minor league contract.
