Aristides Aquino

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Aristides Aquino

|image = Aristides Aquino Dragons 20230321.jpg

|caption = Aquino with the Chunichi Dragons in 2023

|team = Diablos Rojos del México

|number = 56

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|4|22}}

|birth_place = Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 19

|debutyear = 2018

|debutteam = Cincinnati Reds

|debut2league= NPB

|debut2date = March 31

|debut2year = 2023

|debut2team = Chunichi Dragons

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .211

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 41

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 108

|stat2year = 2023 season

|stat2league = NPB

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .154

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 1

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 6

|teams =

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Chunichi Dragons ({{npby|2023}})

}}

Aristides Aquino Núñez (born April 22, 1994) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.

Career

=Cincinnati Reds=

Aquino signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent from the Dominican Prospect League in January 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-176023906|title=No. 22 Cincinnati Reds prospect Aristides Aquino jkeeps slugging for Daytona Tortugas - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=|access-date=November 19, 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/20160902/daytona-tortugas-aristides-aquino-named-2016-fsl-player-of-year|title=Daytona Tortugas' Aristides Aquino named 2016 FSL Player of the Year|first=Zach|last=Dean|publisher=|access-date=November 19, 2016}} The Reds added him to their 40-man roster after the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2016/11/18/jesse-winker-among-7-protected-rule-5-draft/94078616/|title=Jesse Winker among 7 protected from Rule 5 draft|publisher=|access-date=November 19, 2016}}

Aquino was called up to the majors for the first time on August 17, 2018,{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2018/08/17/cincinnati-reds-place-joey-votto-disabled-list-promote-aristides-aquino-leg-injury-hit-pitch-mlb/1019933002/|title=Cincinnati Reds place 1B Joey Votto on the 10-day disabled list with a leg injury|publisher=}} to take the place of Joey Votto, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-aristides-aquino-heading-to-majors/ |title=Reds' Aristides Aquino: Heading to majors |date=August 17, 2018 |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=www.cbssports.com |access-date=August 22, 2018}} On August 19, 2018, Aquino made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Scooter Gennett.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/balanced-reds-sweep-giants-with-11-4-romp-081918 |title=Balanced Reds sweep Giants with 11-4 romp |date=August 19, 2018 |publisher=Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. |work=www.foxsports.com |access-date=August 22, 2018}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-aristides-aquino-gets-big-league-call/|title=Reds' Aristides Aquino: Gets big-league call|author=RotoWire Staff|work=CBS Sports|date=August 1, 2019|access-date=August 1, 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/aristides-aquino-sets-home-run-record|title=Aquino hits 3 HRs, has 7 in 10 career games|date=August 11, 2019|work=MLB.com|author=Mark Sheldon|access-date=August 11, 2019}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/aristides-aquino-home-run-tracker-rookie-making-history-for-reds/uSJleHJHaUR8nbqEhQENuN/|title=Aristides Aquino home run tracker: Rookie sets National League record|last=Jablonski|first=David|website=daytondailynews|language=English|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

Aquino saw limited playing time in 2020 due to the addition of Nick Castellanos, appearing in only 23 games, batting a meager .170/.304/.319 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI.{{Cite web|url=https://blogredmachine.com/2020/09/15/aristides-aquino-future-reds-hinges-nick-castellanos-decision/|title = Aristides Aquino's future with Reds hinges on Nick Castellanos' decision| date=September 15, 2020 }}

On April 25, 2021, Aquino was placed on the 60-day injured list as he recovered from hamate bone surgery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/minor-mlb-transactions-42521.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 4/25/21|date=April 25, 2021 }} He was activated on June 13.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/reds-reinstate-aristides-aquino-from-injured-list.html|title=Reds Reinstate Aristides Aquino from Injured List|date=June 13, 2021 }}

On April 30, 2022, Aquino was designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds and was sent outright to Triple-A.{{Cite web |title=Reds Designate Aristides Aquino, Select Connor Overton |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/reds-designate-aristides-aquino-select-connor-overton.html |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |date=April 30, 2022 |language=en-US}} On May 20, Aquino was selected back to the active roster.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Aristides Aquino: Back with big-league club|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-aristides-aquino-back-with-big-league-club/amp/|access-date=February 7, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He was removed from the 40-man roster and returned to Triple-A on May 23,{{Cite web|title=Reds' Aristides Aquino: Returned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-aristides-aquino-returned-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=February 8, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} but was selected back to the active roster hours later.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Aristides Aquino: Contract selected|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-aristides-aquino-contract-selected/amp/|access-date=February 8, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

On November 15, Aquino was designated for assignment. On November 18, he was non-tendered and became a free agent.

=Chunichi Dragons=

On November 27, 2022, Aquino signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/aristides-aquino-signs-with-npbs-chunichi-dragons.html | title=Aristides Aquino Signs with NPB's Chunichi Dragons | date=November 27, 2022 }} In 20 games he slashed .154/.262/.176 with 1 home run and 6 RBI and he became a free agent following the 2023 season.

=Diablos Rojos del México=

On February 19, 2024, Aquino signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=César Valdez y Arístides Aquino reforzarán en México were verano|url=https://cdndeportes.com.do/beisbol/cesar-valdez-y-aristides-aquino-reforzaran-en-mexico-este-verano/|access-date=March 3, 2024|website=cdndeportes.com.do|date=February 20, 2024 |language=en}} In 59 games, he slashed .296/.390/.491 with nine home runs, 37 RBI and five stolen bases. With the team, Aquino won the Serie del Rey.{{Cite web|title=LMB: ¡Los Diablos Rojos se llevan al infierno su título 17 y reinan en lo más alto de la Liga Mexicana de Beisbol!|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-los-diablos-rojos-se-llevan-al-infierno-su-titulo-17-y-reinan-en-lo-mas-alto-de-la-liga-mexicana-de-beisbol|access-date=November 14, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}}

Aquino re-signed with México for a second season in 2025.