Reds sign highly-rated catcher Alfredo Duno to lead international signing class

The Cincinnati Reds are building around catcher Tyler Stephenson in the present and maybe Alfredo Duno will be the catcher of the future.

Duno was the crown of the Reds’ international signing class when he signed his contract Monday in the Dominican Republic. Duno, a 17-year-old listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, is rated as the fourth-best player in this year’s international signing period by MLB.com.

It’s a long path from a 17-year-old international signee to the Major Leagues, but the Reds see potential for stardom.

“One of the best catchers I’ve seen come out of Latin America,” said Trey Hendricks, the Reds’ international scouting director. “He’s getting a lot of notoriety from different baseball publications and for good reason. He’s a really talented kid.”

Duno, a right-handed hitter, is known for his big arm and big power. There are scouts who rate his arm and power as a 70 on the 20-80 scale, which would make him one of the top minor leaguers in both categories if he shows it in games.

One scout who watched Duno was impressed with his physicality. If Duno was taking batting practice alongside Major League players, the scout said, he could fit in with them. That’s not common 17-year-olds because most of them lack the strength to drive the ball to all parts of the field.

“It’s a loud sound off his bat,” Hendricks said. “It’s not the only thing he can do, though. I think that’s why he is so highly regarded in our industry.”

There are many difficulties scouting players when they are the equivalent to freshmen and sophomores in high school, and often the scouting begins even younger than that, but the Reds have confidence in Duno. They believe in his bat. They believe he will stay behind the plate. They believe he will keep improving.

The Reds stressed the importance of learning English, so it’ll be easier for him to communicate with American pitchers once he advances to a Stateside league.

“The work ethic has never been a question mark for us,” Hendricks said. “This kid is obviously very physically gifted, but he also doesn’t take that for granted. He’s one of the hardest workers when we have our camps. He’s the type that is not satisfied. He wants to be a really good player and we think he will be in the end.”

The Reds held a signing ceremony in the Dominican Republic for nine of their latest signees on Monday, one day after the signing period opened. General Manager Nick Krall joined some of the international scouting staff at the event.

Next up is a minicamp for all the signees as they begin work to prepare for the season. It’s the first step in professional baseball for Duno, who the Reds hope will become one of the premier players in their farm system.

“He’s learning to manage and call a game, all the little things that go into catching in professional baseball,” Hendricks said. “He’s got tremendous bat speed. We think he’s going to have a really big number for raw power, 70 or 80, whatever you want to call it in the end. He’s a physical kid who is still developing.”

The Reds signed 14 players through the first two days of the international signing period, which lasts a year. Hendricks says there will more players added in the coming weeks.

Notable players in the Reds’ 2023 international signing class

SS Alfredo Alcantara, 17, Dominican Republic – He’s listed at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, but his bat plays much larger. Behind Duno, he’s probably the highest-regarded player in the Reds’ signing class.

“He can really swing the bat and we think he has a chance to stick at short,” Hendricks said. “He’s a very accurate thrower with a really good internal clock. He’s never out of control or rushing. He knows the speed of the runner and makes the plays that he should make.”

SS Rafhlmil Torres, 17, Venezuela – There is a lot of excitement internally about Torres’ potential. He’s a 5-foot-11, 150-pound switch-hitter with a chance to stick at shortstop.

“Really flashy defender,” Hendricks said. “He can do all the acrobatic plays. Swings the bat well from both sides of the plate. A good add, for sure, to our class. I think Alcantara and Torres are both going to see time at shortstop in the Dominican Summer League this year. I think we’ve got a few good ones.”

CF Yeycol Soriano, 17, Dominican Republic – A left-handed hitter and thrower doesn’t have blazing speed, but the Reds like his defense.

“Really good reads and routes in center field,” Hendricks said. “He doesn’t have the burning closing speed that some center fielders have, but he just gets the balls and makes it look easy out there. He’s got a plus arm already and he can swing the bat. He’s another one we’re excited about.”

RHP Andre Vasquez, 17, Dominican Republic – He’s relatively new to pitching after converting from the outfield. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds.

“He has a really clean delivery,” Hendricks said. “We think he’s going to throw really hard in the future. He’s already low 90s and we could see him getting into mid-to-high 90s with normal development.”

RHP Irvin Gonzalez, 16, Venezuela – There is room to grow, listed at 5-foot-10, 150 pounds, but he’s shown good pitchability.

“Multiple pitches that he can land for strikes,” Hendricks said. “Nothing that he throws is straight. It’s sink, cut, depth to his breaking balls, depth to his changeup. He mixes really well. The hitters never seem comfortable in the box against him.”

RHP Sergio Villa, 17, Colombia – Listed at 6-foot-2, 155 pounds, Villa has shown starter traits.

“Really encouraged with his development over the last six months or so,” Hendricks said. “He’s added weight. He’s gone from 82, 83 mph to touching 90 now.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Alfredo Duno signs with Cincinnati Reds to lead international class