Ariel Almonte

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #27 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Almonte was seen as a relatively well-polished right field prospect with power and bat-to-ball skills when the Reds signed him as their top target in the 2021 international class. He was exactly as advertised in his 2021 Dominican Summer League debut and his 2022 Arizona Complex League season, but 2023 was a season to forget. Even in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, a .597 OPS is well below-average.
  
  Scouting Report: Scouts aren’t ready to write off Almonte even if there are worrisome trends. Almonte was never a speedster, but he’s going to really have to hit for power as a fringy right fielder who struggles at times to read the ball off the bat. He has above-average bat speed and can create leverage in his swing when he puts it all together, but he never seemed to get comfortable at the plate in the FSL. His struggles against lefties are particularly troublesome. He bails out against breaking balls and had just two extra-base hits against southpaws all season. Almonte has plenty of work to do against righthanders as well, as too often he fell behind in counts, then chased pitchers’ pitches. But his swing remains fluid and there’s real power potential, offering hope that he still has a shot to develop into a right fielder who gets on base and hits 20-plus home runs.
  
  The Future: Almonte can’t say he’s mastered Low-A, so he’s most likely ticketed for a return trip to Daytona. His 2024 season can’t look like his 2023 season did, but there’s still potential to develop into a regular, even if there are a lot more doubts he can get to that point.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #22 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Almonte was one of a pair of high-ceiling outfielders the Reds targeted in the 2021 international signing class. While the toolsier Malvin Valdez has struggled, Almonte has shown the polish the Reds anticipated when they signed him. He's added 20 pounds of good weight since signing and now has some of the best power among Reds lower-level hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Almonte needs a lot of refinement, but he fits the profile of a slugging right fielder who hits for enough average to make it work. His average exit velocities (90 mph) are already among the best in the Reds organization. He shows a mature whole field approach, but he needs to do a better job of recognizing breaking balls and he's going to need a lot more at-bats against lefties to get more comfortable against them. Almonte needs to improve his reads off the bat, as he sometimes takes false steps and then has to rush to make up for his misread. As he gets bigger, he's slowing down as well. He runs well underway but turns in below-average times from home to first. He has an above-average arm that fits in right.
  
  The Future: Almonte's calm demeanor and grinder mentality helps the Reds feel comfortable he will get the most out of his impressive toolset. He should make the jump to Low-A Daytona in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Field: 45. Run: 40. Arm: 55.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #21 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The biggest name in the Reds’ 2020-2021 international signing class, Almonte impressed as an amateur by showing power and an advanced ability to recognize spin. His Dominican Summer League debut lived up to those expectations.
  
  Scouting Report: Almonte showed a little bit of everything in his pro debut. He was second on the DSL Reds in home runs (five) and third in steals (25) while blistering line drive after line drive. He has already started to show plus power potential, with more likely to come as he fills out his still somewhat skinny frame. He shows excellent swing decisions for his age and squares up the ball consistently. In addition to hitting the ball hard, he shows the skills to post solid on-base percentages as well. He is a fringe-average runner who will likely slow down, but he should be fine in right field with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Almonte was one of the highest-priced outfielders in the 2021 international class. It looks to be money well spent. He has the foundational skills to be a fast-moving corner outfielder. He’ll make his U.S. debut in 2022 while still a teenager.
  
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #18 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Almonte impressed scouts with his ability to pick up spin, stay within the strike zone and draw walks in game action. He’s a big (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) outfielder with a short stroke for his size, an advanced approach for his age and power that projects to be plus once he fills out.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Almonte is able to generate backspin on balls from gap to gap in batting practice, with a flatter swing path in games and a chance for more extra-base damage once he understands which pitches to drive and lift in favorable counts.
  
  THE FUTURE: Almonte is a corner outfielder with below-average speed and an above-average arm for right field, with most of his value driven from what he does in the batter's box. If he hits as well as he’s expected to, the Reds will be thrilled to live with his corner outfield defense.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Almonte was one of a pair of high-ceiling outfielders the Reds targeted in the 2021 international signing class. While the toolsier Malvin Valdez has struggled, Almonte has shown the polish the Reds anticipated when they signed him. He's added 20 pounds of good weight since signing and now has some of the best power among Reds lower-level hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Almonte needs a lot of refinement, but he fits the profile of a slugging right fielder who hits for enough average to make it work. His average exit velocities (90 mph) are already among the best in the Reds organization. He shows a mature whole field approach, but he needs to do a better job of recognizing breaking balls and he's going to need a lot more at-bats against lefties to get more comfortable against them. Almonte needs to improve his reads off the bat, as he sometimes takes false steps and then has to rush to make up for his misread. As he gets bigger, he's slowing down as well. He runs well underway but turns in below-average times from home to first. He has an above-average arm that fits in right.
  
  The Future: Almonte's calm demeanor and grinder mentality helps the Reds feel comfortable he will get the most out of his impressive toolset. He should make the jump to Low-A Daytona in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Field: 45. Run: 40. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Almonte was one of a pair of high-ceiling outfielders the Reds targeted in the 2021 international signing class. While the toolsier Malvin Valdez has struggled, Almonte has shown the polish the Reds anticipated when they signed him. He's added 20 pounds of good weight since signing and now has some of the best power among Reds lower-level hitters.
  
  Scouting Report: Almonte needs a lot of refinement, but he fits the profile of a slugging right fielder who hits for enough average to make it work. His average exit velocities (90 mph) are already among the best in the Reds organization. He shows a mature whole field approach, but he needs to do a better job of recognizing breaking balls and he's going to need a lot more at-bats against lefties to get more comfortable against them. Almonte needs to improve his reads off the bat, as he sometimes takes false steps and then has to rush to make up for his misread. As he gets bigger, he's slowing down as well. He runs well underway but turns in below-average times from home to first. He has an above-average arm that fits in right.
  
  The Future: Almonte's calm demeanor and grinder mentality helps the Reds feel comfortable he will get the most out of his impressive toolset. He should make the jump to Low-A Daytona in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Field: 45. Run: 40. Arm: 55.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The biggest name in the Reds&#39 2020-2021 international signing class, Almonte impressed as an amateur by showing power and an advanced ability to recognize spin. His Dominican Summer League debut lived up to those expectations.
  
  Scouting Report: Almonte showed a little bit of everything in his pro debut. He was second on the DSL Reds in home runs (five) and third in steals (25) while blistering line drive after line drive. He has already started to show plus power potential, with more likely to come as he fills out his still somewhat skinny frame. He shows excellent swing decisions for his age and squares up the ball consistently. In addition to hitting the ball hard, he shows the skills to post solid on-base percentages as well. He is a fringe-average runner who will likely slow down, but he should be fine in right field with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Almonte was one of the highest-priced outfielders in the 2021 international class. It looks to be money well spent. He has the foundational skills to be a fast-moving corner outfielder. He&#39ll make his U.S. debut in 2022 while still a teenager.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The biggest name in the Reds’ 2020-2021 international signing class, Almonte impressed as an amateur by showing power and an advanced ability to recognize spin. His Dominican Summer League debut lived up to those expectations.
  
  Scouting Report: Almonte showed a little bit of everything in his pro debut. He was second on the DSL Reds in home runs (five) and third in steals (25) while blistering line drive after line drive. He has already started to show plus power potential, with more likely to come as he fills out his still somewhat skinny frame. He shows excellent swing decisions for his age and squares up the ball consistently. In addition to hitting the ball hard, he shows the skills to post solid on-base percentages as well. He is a fringe-average runner who will likely slow down, but he should be fine in right field with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Almonte was one of the highest-priced outfielders in the 2021 international class. It looks to be money well spent. He has the foundational skills to be a fast-moving corner outfielder. He’ll make his U.S. debut in 2022 while still a teenager.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Almonte impressed scouts with his ability to pick up spin, stay within the strike zone and draw walks in game action. He's a big (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) outfielder with a short stroke for his size, an advanced approach for his age and power that projects to be plus once he fills out.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Almonte is able to generate backspin on balls from gap to gap in batting practice, with a flatter swing path in games and a chance for more extra-base damage once he understands which pitches to drive and lift in favorable counts.
  
  THE FUTURE: Almonte is a corner outfielder with below-average speed and an above-average arm for right field, with most of his value driven from what he does in the batter's box. If he hits as well as he's expected to, the Reds will be thrilled to live with his corner outfield defense.
• January, 2021 Scouting Report
  A pair of Dominican outfielders are expected to sign deals in the $1.5 to $2 million range with the Reds in 2020, including Almonte, who trains with German. Almonte is a tall, physical corner fielder, with a short swing for his size from the left side. He recognizes pitches well for his age and has easy power that projects to be plus once he's physically mature. He's not much of a runner but has a plus arm that should fit in right field.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Almonte impressed scouts with his ability to pick up spin, stay within the strike zone and draw walks in game action. He’s a big (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) outfielder with a short stroke for his size, an advanced approach for his age and power that projects to be plus once he fills out.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Almonte is able to generate backspin on balls from gap to gap in batting practice, with a flatter swing path in games and a chance for more extra-base damage once he understands which pitches to drive and lift in favorable counts.
  
  THE FUTURE: Almonte is a corner outfielder with below-average speed and an above-average arm for right field, with most of his value driven from what he does in the batter's box. If he hits as well as he’s expected to, the Reds will be thrilled to live with his corner outfield defense.