Alfredo Duno gave the Cincinnati Reds more than enough offense to take notice this season, but the real breakthrough may have come in the work that doesn’t show up in the box score.
Even with time missed because of a hamstring injury, Duno put together a strong year across High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga, batting .281/.395/.504 with 19 home runs and 66 walks in 97 games. The power was obvious. So was the ability to reach base.
For a catcher, though, the bat is only part of the job. The Reds also came away encouraged by what they saw from Duno on defense.
“The framing and the blocking are both areas we saw significant improvement in this year,”Reds Vice President of Player Development Jeremy Farrell told Baseball America. “As a big guy, there’s a lot going on there. He definitely has the arm strength, but he’s continuing to work on the throwing accuracy.”
That growth matters because Cincinnati wasn’t simply trying to let Duno pile up numbers. The organization wanted him pushed into more demanding territory, and Double-A gave him that chance. It put him around older pitchers and asked him to handle more of the game-planning side of catching.
“That was a big reason why we wanted to get him to Double-A, so he could work with the older pitchers and what goes into calling a game in Double-A,” Farrell said.
Those are the kinds of details that matter for a young catcher trying to climb the ladder. Building trust with pitchers, calling a game, and learning how to steer a staff are all part of the position, even if none of it shows up in his slash line.
Duno’s production at the plate already gave Reds fans plenty to like. Farrell’s comments make it clear there was more progress happening underneath the surface, too.
The next test is putting it all together. If Duno can keep the bat moving while continuing to sharpen the defensive side, Cincinnati will have plenty to feel good about.
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