Reds might've just fast-tracked Alfredo Duno with this mentorship move

One of the most exciting prospects in the Cincinnati Reds' minor league system is Alfredo Duno. Finally healthy, the youngster tore up Low-A as a 19-year-old in Daytona, posting a .287/.430/.518, and generated a lot of buzz.

Still, without much experience and at such a young age, it seemed as if it would be a while until we got to see Duno get a shot at the big league level. For the Reds, that's not ideal. Tyler Stephenson is a free agent at season's end, and the club doesn't have much organizational depth behind the plate that would be ready to step in.

Duno provided a spark of hope that he could become a fast-riser, putting on a show against older competition in the Arizona Fall League playoffs. The big-bodied youngster has proven his bat could be special, but Cincinnati's top prospect could be held back by his defense. That all might change, however, thanks to his offseason workout partner, nine-time All-Star Salvador Perez.

Salvador Perez is the perfect mentor to help fast-track Reds super-prospect Alfredo Duno

Duno isn't without his defensive gifts. He has a cannon for an arm, but at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, and still filling out his frame, there are questions as to whether or not he can maintain enough mobility to remain behind the plate.

That's where Perez comes in. The Kansas City Royals star is a five-time Gold Glove winner and is widely considered one of the best defensive catchers of his generation. Like Duno, Perez is bigger than average for the position, at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds.

Despite his size, Perez has always made the most of his athleticism, which is something he shares with Duno, but over the years, the veteran has mastered the technique required to become one of the game's defensive stalwarts.

From the looks of it, Duno is taking it all in and following in his countryman's footsteps. The Venezuelan native has all of the athletic tools necessary to excel defensively if he can refine his technique.

We'll have to see it play out once real games get underway, but if Duno can prove he's got the goods behind the plate and his lessons stick, we could start to see him rise through the ranks quickly. A big league arrival in 2026 shouldn't even be discussed, but with some luck, perhaps he'll be ready to get an extended look next spring with a chance to make his big-league debut sometime in 2027. If that's the case, maybe the timeline at catcher isn't all that disjointed after all.