Aristides Aquino

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #18 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Aquino has long had prototypical right field tools, but he's struggled to fully take advantage. He did get his first big league at-bat in October. But the Reds then non-tendered him to drop him from the 40-man roster. He then returned to the Reds on a minor league contract. Over-aggressiveness has long been Aquino's biggest issue.
  
  Scouting Report: Aquino is a sturdy, athletic outfielder who has plus raw power to all fields. His power in games will be above-average in the future. He doesn't make a lot of quality contact, mostly because he has a tendency to chase and expand the strike zone. He has a very good arm, but his below-average speed limits him to a corner spot. His outfield defense is average, and fits well in the corner.
  
  The Future: In need of strike zone refinement, Aquino will play quite a lot of right field for Triple-A Louisville. Aquino most likely ends up as a long-time Triple-A outfielder with occasional stints in the big leagues, but he's still young enough to have a hope for a larger role.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #14 prospect in 2018
  Aquino won the Reds' minor league player of the year award in 2016, and followed that with a flop in his first season in Double-A. After an impressive .273/.327/.519 showing in High A Daytona in 2016, he hit just .216/.282/.397 for the Blue Wahoos, but still managed 17 home runs. With 20 doubles and six triples, nearly half of his 99 hits went for extra bases. When Aquino does make contact, he's adept at using the entire field, and can drive the ball to any part of the park. Aquino has all the tools you could hope for–he's tall and powerfully built. He has both strength in his bat and in his arm. He's an excellent defender in right field, with good speed and a great arm. The hit tool is the biggest question. Against the advanced pitchers in Double-A, he struggled laying off pitches, especially breaking balls out of the zone. Until he develops some ability to take a late-strike breaking ball out of the zone, pitchers have zero reason to work in the zone. But challenge him with a fastball and he'll live up to his “Punisher” nickname. Aquino will likely repeat Double-A in 2018. His power is real, but he doesn't really fit as a backup outfielder, so he needs to show he can hit enough to play everyday.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #7 prospect in 2017
  Heading into 2015, Aquino appeared poised to build on an excellent season at Rookie-level Billings, but instead struggled at low Class A Dayton and returned to Billings. Assigned to high Class A Daytona in 2016, his production caught up to his tools as he ranked second in the Florida State League in home runs (23) and slugging percentage (.531). Aquino always has passed the eye test. He's a tall, broad-shouldered right fielder with athleticism to go with his impressive and still growing strength. He keeps his hands moving, pumping the bat throughout his pre-pitch setup, but he stays controlled in his stance with solid plate coverage. He takes a big rip, but it's a relatively level swing that keeps the bat in the hitting zone for a while. When he gets his arms extended, Aquino pulls the ball for home runs, but he's also comfortable driving the ball to right field for doubles and triples. Because of his power-oriented swing, he often turns in average run times out of the batter's box, but he's a plus runner underway and that speed plays both on the bases and in the outfield. He's an above-average defender in right with a double-plus arm. Aquino has prototype right-field tools, though his plate discipline issues enhance his risk profile. He has impact potential as he heads to Double-A Pensacola in 2017.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #18 prospect in 2016
  The low Class A Dayton outfield in 2015 featured a trio of talented athletes, including Jonathan Reynoso, Narciso Cook and Aquino, a $115,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2011 who has the best chance of putting it all together. A broken wrist suffered in mid-April helped ruin Aquino's season, however. He missed two months, and upon his return showed little ability to work to get into counts where he could use his plus power. At this point, his few walks are more of a reflection of the pitcher's wildness than anything else. Aquino swings aggressively at most anything around the plate. He can make contact with fastballs, breaking balls and changeups around the zone, but if he falls behind, he lacks the ability to work back to a more favorable count. If he gets something to pull, Aquino can deliver plus power. He has a plus arm with average range in right field. He has average speed and runs better underway because he's so long-limbed. He probably will return to Dayton, but he has a chance to advance if he hits. The Reds elected not to protect him from the Rule 5 draft by not adding him to the 40-man roster.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #9 prospect in 2015
  A tall, live-bodied right fielder with a big arm who wears No. 27, Aquino models his game after Vladimir Guerrero, right down to a batting stance that begins with a bat waggle above his head. Signed for $115,000 in 2011, Aquino struggled with contact issues in his first years in the organization, but he also showed flashes of immense potential. He broke out in 2014 at Rookie-level Billings, leading the Pioneer League with 23 doubles and 64 RBIs. A student of the game, Aquino has steadily improved, learning to speak English quickly. In 2013, he could drive a fastball but was an easy mark for offspeed offerings. In his return to Billings, he showed a better ability to stay back and drive the ball to the opposite field. With long arms, Aquino shows plus power when he can extend. He uses a big leg kick that may have to be toned down as he moves up the ladder, and he doesn't like to take ball four if he sees a pitch he likes. Aquino had an average arm when he signed, but it's now a plus weapon in right field--he led PL outfielders with 13 assists' and he has grown to be an average defender. His tick above-average speed has allowed him to be a threat on the bases. Aquino is one of the Reds' most well-rounded position prospects, and if he continues to improve, he'll make noise at low Class A Dayton in 2015.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #24 prospect in 2014
  Signed for $110,000 in January 2011, Aquino was the story of extended spring training last year as he launched home run after home run. The same power didn't show didn't show up in games at first, but after a slow start, Aquino wound up leading the Rookie-level Arizona League with 25 extra-base hits. At the plate, he has significant power potential. He chases too many breaking balls, but the Reds are impressed with how he studies the game. He analyzes not only his own at-bats, showing the ability to make in-game adjustments, but also those of his teammates. A long-legged outfielder who has the frame to carry plenty of good weight once he matures, Aquino is an average defender in right field with a well above-average arm. He led the AZL with 10 assists. He's an average runner who likely will slow as he gets bigger. Aquino likely will return to Rookie-level Billings in 2014, though a jump to low Class A Dayton isn't out of the question.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #10 prospect in 2019
  Aquino has long been known as one of the Reds’ best power brokers. This year, he got his first chance to show off his power on the biggest stage. Changing to an open stance allowed him to access that power in a stunning open to his big league career. He also has an easy plus arm in right field. "He’s a kid who’s a little raw, but you get guys with that kind of pop it doesn’t matter,” Charlotte manager Mark Grudzielanek said. Aquino’s strikeout rate can be uncomfortable, but the swing when he connects makes up for that.
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  Ranked Florida State League #9 prospect in 2016
  The league's MVP, Aquino led the FSL in total bases (251), triples (12) and extra-base hits (61) while ranking second with 23 home runs. Scouts and managers alike considered him a profile right fielder with plus power, athleticism, defense and arm strength. Controlling the strike zone has never come easily to Aquino, who had never played more than 75 games in a season before. Hitting for average and making enough contact will determine his overall ceiling, but he has star potential with his other tools. Aquino wore down a bit but still showed the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the park. One manager compared him with the Cubs' Jorge Soler for his tools and for the laser-like trajectory of his hard hits.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #1 prospect in 2014
  Aquino has tantalized with impressive tools, plus raw power and feats of strength since first coming to the U.S., but he hasn't always turned that package into baseball production. After ending 2013 in Billings, Aquino returned to Big Sky country noticeably stronger and with improved pitch selection. PL observers were unanimous in their admiration for the tall, lanky Dominican, with multiple comparisons with Vladimir Guerrero, whose No. 27 he wears, and for his imitation of Vlad's "over the head" bat waggle. Aquino led the league in RBIs (64), extra-base hits (44) and ranked second in homers (16), stolen bases (21) and slugging (.577). During one torrid stretch in July, he homered in four straight at-bats over two days. Aquino's power comes from long arms that create leverage in his swing, and he's got a knack for making in-game adjustments at the plate. He can get fooled with pitches, but he keeps his hands back and still drives the ball. He still is growing into his body and could get stronger. Defensively, Aquino has turned himself into a good defender in right field with a plus arm. While no more than an average runner, he's got the ability to steal bases.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Aquino has long been known as one of the Reds’ best power brokers. This year, he got his first chance to show off his power on the biggest stage. Changing to an open stance allowed him to access that power in a stunning open to his big league career. He also has an easy plus arm in right field. "He’s a kid who’s a little raw, but you get guys with that kind of pop it doesn’t matter,” Charlotte manager Mark Grudzielanek said. Aquino’s strikeout rate can be uncomfortable, but the swing when he connects makes up for that.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Heading into 2015, Aquino appeared poised to build on an excellent season at Rookie-level Billings, but instead he struggled at low Class A Dayton and returned to Billings. But at high Class A Daytona in 2016 his production caught up to his tools, and he ranked second in the Florida State League in home runs (23) and slugging percentage (.531). Scouting Report: Aquino always has passed the eye test. He's a tall, broad-shouldered right fielder with athleticism to go with his impressive and still growing strength. He keeps his hands moving, pumping the bat throughout his pre-pitch setup, but he stays controlled in his stance with solid plate coverage. He takes a big rip, but it's a relatively level swing that keeps the bat in the hitting zone for a while. When he gets his arms extended, Aquino pulls the ball for home runs, but he's also comfortable driving the ball to right field for doubles and triples. Because of his power-oriented swing, he often turns in average run times out of the batter's box, but he's a plus runner underway and that speed plays both on the bases and in the outfield. He's an above-average defender in right with a plus-plus arm.
  
  The Future: Aquino has prototype right-field tools, though his plate discipline issues enhance his risk profile. He has impact potential as he heads to Double-A Pensacola in 2017.