Sal Stewart has Reds fans buzzing, but another prospect might be even better

Cincinnati Reds top prospect Sal Stewart has the fanbase screaming for his call-up to the big leagues, and it's easy to see why. Stewart has been dominant over the 33 games he's played since his promotion to Triple-A Louisville, posting a .323/.399/.653 slash line during that span.

Notably, Stewart crushed a 460-foot home run on Saturday as part of a two-homer game, four-RBI game. He would undoubtedly bring electricity to a fanbase who's begging for offensive firepower. But as exciting as it would be to see the 21-year-old Stewart wearing a Reds uniform, he may not even be the organization's best prospect at the moment.

Alfredo Duno, who just took home Florida State Player of the Week honors, has climbed up the organization's prospect rankings after destroying Single-A pitching throughout the 2025 season.

This Reds' prospect may be better than Sal Stewart

Signed as an international free agent, Duno made his professional debut in 2023 at the age of 17. After an injury-shortened 2024 season, the young catcher has dominated the Florida State League in 2025. Duno leads the FSL this season in doubles (30), home runs (14), RBI (73), walks (85), and runs scored (71).

While it's his offensive numbers that stand out, the Reds are hoping that Duno can become a solid defensive backstop as well. He has an above-average arm, but has made nine errors on the season. Duno's 6-foot-2 frame may be difficult to control behind the plate, and some scouts have suggested he could outgrow the position.

After trading for Jose Trevino this past offseason, the Reds extended the former New York Yankees backstop through 2027 (with an option for the 2028 season), making him the perfect mentor for the up-and-coming Duno. The 19-year-old isn't expected to break into the big leagues until 2027 at the earliest.

The next two seasons in the minor leagues could be crucial for Duno's maturation. The Reds have had difficulty developing young catching prospects, and are hoping that Duno could help reverse that trend. If his bat continues to thrive and his work behind the plate gets incrementally better, Reds fans will be clamoring to see him in Cincinnati in the near future.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors