Alfredo Duno is making it complicated for Reds fans to remain patient

Cincinnati Reds prospect Alfredo Duno looks like he's ready to stare down Major League pitching right now. Currently at High-A Dayton, Duno is on quite the heater of late. During the month of May, he's hitting .370/.493/.815 with seven home runs, 15 RBI, and a 215 wRC+. Those numbers are out of this world, and Reds fans are already thinking about what his bat could mean to the big-league lineup.

Obviously, at just 20 years old and having only played 35 games beyond Low-A, the Reds have zero intention of fast-tracking their top prospect to the major leagues. Duno doesn't even need to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft until after the 2027 season.

Furthermore, Duno plays a position that requires extreme attention to detail. If Cincinnati's front office truly views Duno as the team's catcher of the future, there's absolutely no reason he to accelerate his development at this time.

Reds can't allow roster construction to shift Alfredo Duno's timeline

Reds' starting catcher Tyler Stephenson will be a free agent after the season. Though fans appear split on the idea of signing Stephenson to a contract extension, the cold-hard truth is that Jose Trevino is in line to be Cincinnati's starting catcher next season. While he has a Platinum Glove on his résumé, Trevino is much better suited to be the Reds' backup in 2027, not the starter.

If Stephenson leaves via free agency during the offseason, there are other ways to backfill the position that don't include rushing Duno to the major leagues. Veterans like Mitch Garver, Ryan Jeffers, and Austin Hedges will be free agents, and Cincinnati's front office could always swing a trade in order to find a platoon partner for Trevino next season.

Baseball fans know that becoming an MLB-caliber catcher takes time. Learning the nuances of calling a game, building relationships with a pitching staff, and now figuring out how to take of advantage of the new ABS technology add increased variables when it comes to learning the ropes of being a professional backstop.

Duno's had some good mentors along the way already. He spent some time with another oversized catcher, Salavador Perez, this past offseason. The future Hall of Famer was able to pass along some tips to the young backstop, many of which will be invaluable in the future. Trevino was sent on a rehab assignment to High-A earlier this year, and his one-on-one time with Duno is sure to bear some fruit as well.

Reds fans won't want to hear this, but in order to get the most of their top young catcher, he's going to need to spend a lot of time in the minor leagues. While the bat could be slotted into the heart of the Reds' batting order tomorrow, Duno still has a long road ahead before hes' ready for the big leagues.

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