The Cincinnati Reds may not have much to feel good about at the big-league level right now, but one of their youngest prospects is giving the organization something real to point to.
Eighteen-year-old Dominican infielder Liberts Aponte is drawing notice from Jim Bowden of The Athletic, who singled him out as a player to keep an eye on as the season winds down. Bowden said Aponte deserves more national attention, and the numbers help explain why.
"Scouts covering the Dominican Summer League are raving about Aponte’s hit tool and the stats back it up as he slashed .351/.493/.514 with 11 stolen bases in 33 games this season," Bowden wrote. "What really stands out is his 30 walks and 25 strikeouts.
He has a real understanding of how to work a count and spit on balls out of the zone. He utilizes the entire field, spraying the ball from foul pole to foul pole.
"The Venezuelan shortstop has good infield actions with quick feet and hands. His arm strength has some scouts believing he’ll end up at second base but let’s give the teenager some more time to develop physically before making that decision."
Aponte’s season in the Dominican Summer League has been a step forward at the plate. In 33 games, he’s hit .351/.493/.514 while collecting 30 walks and 25 strikeouts. He’s also added 11 stolen bases and 11 extra-base hits, all while continuing to show the kind of infield defense that made him a name to know in the first place.
Last year, the 18-year-old had a solid first season in the Reds’ system, but this season he’s started to separate himself with the bat. He’s been viewed as a glove-first player so far, though he’s beginning to fill out physically, and that has helped his offensive progress.
MLB Pipeline currently ranks Aponte as Cincinnati’s No. 8 prospect, and that standing could rise if the bat keeps trending up. If he carries this development into Single-A and Double-A over the next few years, he could quickly become one of the more interesting names in the Reds’ farm system.
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