Aristides Aquino

BIOGRAPHY

Aristides Aquino was born on April 22, 1994, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is an outfielder in the MLB. 

Aquino signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent from the Dominican Prospect League in January 2011. He made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Reds and also spent 2012 playing with them. He played for the Arizona League Reds and Billings Mustangs in 2013, Billings in 2014 and Billings and Dayton Dragons in 2015. In 2016, he played for the Daytona Tortugas and was named the Florida State League Player of the Year. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

Aquino was called up to the majors for the first time on August 17, 2018, to take the place of Joey Votto, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list. On August 19, 2018, Aquino made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Scooter Gennett. Aquino stayed in the game to play right field, and later struck out in his first major league at bat facing Ray Black. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 30, 2018. He re-signed a minor league deal on December 3, 2018.

He opened the 2019 season with the Louisville Bats. On August 1, the Reds selected Aquino's contract. Aquino hit seven home runs in his first ten major league games, tying the record of Trevor Story. On August 10, 2019, in a game against the Chicago Cubs, Aquino hit three home runs, becoming the first rookie in MLB history to hit a home run in three consecutive innings, and the second rookie after Bobby Estalella to have a three home run game in his first ten career games.

On August 16, 2019 Aquino became the first player in modern MLB history with 10 home runs in his first 16 career games. The next day, he hit his eleventh home run in 17 games.

 

He also holds the record for most home runs in a month for a National League rookie (14), in addition to tying the Reds franchise record for home runs in a month for any player.

Aquino saw limited playing time in 2020 due to the addition of Nicholas Castellanos, appearing in only 23 games, batting a meager .170/.304/.319 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI.