Cincinnati Reds prospect Alfredo Duno left Wednesday night’s game after a frightening play while trying to beat out an infield hit.
Duno lunged for first base, grabbed at his hamstring, and then tumbled to the ground. The injury immediately stopped his night and raised concern around one of the organization’s most talked-about young bats.
The 83-game line he’s put together between High-A and Double-A shows why he’s drawing so much attention: .266/.391/.510 with 37 extra-base hits, including 19 home runs. Duno also appeared in the Futures Game for the second straight season and made his feelings clear when he spoke to the media.
“I’m going to keep working on my defense. Everyone knows I can hit in the major leagues; the question is whether I can field,” he told ElExtraBase on X.
That’s the real storyline with Duno. The bat is carrying the profile, but Cincinnati wants to keep seeing progress behind the plate. If this injury costs him meaningful time, it could slow that defensive development at a critical point.
Meanwhile, the Reds’ big-league rotation has quietly been doing its part. Since the start of July, Cincinnati’s starters have been among the best in the majors, piling up 10 quality starts this month. Only Baltimore has more, with 12, while Cincinnati is tied with Toronto, Seattle, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Brady Singer was part of that group before Wednesday’s loss to the Cleveland Guardians, though this one didn’t go his way. He allowed four unearned runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings, walking four and striking out three.
After the game, Singer addressed the trade talk surrounding him.
“I have no idea," Singer told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. "It’s out of my control and stuff like that.
I’m just going to come to work tomorrow and do my stuff. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
Just have to find out.”
Singer opened the season rough, but he’s been better lately. On the year, he’s 5-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 21 starts for Cincinnati.
Still, it would be a surprise if the Reds kept him past the deadline. Singer is on an expiring contract, and with starting pitching always in demand this time of year, Cincinnati should have a real chance to get a useful return if it decides to move him.
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