Cincinnati Reds: Tyler Mahle starts for Bats, Aristides Aquino HR record

What’s up Reds Country? It’s time to take a look down on the farm and check out how the Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates are faring as the season comes to a close.

It’s time to check in with what’s going on among some of the Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates. Triple-A Louisville, similar to the Reds, are occupying the bottom of their division in the International League. The Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Cincinnati’s Double-A affiliate, however, is dominating the Southern League and are on a quest to defend their Southern League Championship.

Mahle gets second start with Louisville. Tyler Mahle, who was optioned to Louisville a couple weeks ago, started his second game for the Bats yesterday. Mahle went 5 innings, allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, including 2 home runs. Mahle also struck out four and walked two.

In his first game with the Louisville Bats, Mahle went 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits. During his short stint in Louisville, Mahle owns a 4.91 ERA. In 22 starts with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season, Mahle’s ERA was about the same at 4.95.

After a very successful month of June, Mahle lowered his ERA to 3.66. During his six starts in June, Mahle struck out 37 and had an ERA of 2.18. In July, however, the wheels came off. Mahle only pitched in 15.2 across 4 games and his ERA over those 4 games 8.62. With the Reds’ starting rotation sitting at six players currently, even once the September call-ups roll around it’s hard to see Mahle being called up to the Majors.

Aquino breaks home run record. Aristides Aquino set the franchise record this season for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Aquino hit his 18th home run of the season over the left field fence during the ninth inning of the Wahoos loss to the Mobile Bay Bears on Sunday.

Aquino’s 18th round-tripper this season broke the mark he set last season when he tied Juan Duran‘s record of 17 home runs in a season. Duran is now at Class-A Advanced Daytona. Aquino is hitting only .247 on the season but has played better of late. Over the last 10 games, he’s hitting .270 with 3 homers and 6 RBIs.

Aristides Aquino is on the 40-man roster and eligible to join the Reds in September, however, with the Blue Wahoos leading the Southern League, it’ll be interesting to see if Cincinnati leaves their young right field prospect in Double-A.