Surging Reds prospect will have Mets fans cursing Billy Eppler all over again

The 2022 MLB trade deadline was a rather unpleasant one for Cincinnati Reds fans. After parting with Jesse Winker, Eugeino Suárez, and Sonny Gray before the season began, the Reds doubled down on their rebuild and offloaded the remainder of their assets by jettisoning Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle prior to the August 2 deadline. Though Cincinnati received numerous talented young prospects in the process, it's always upsetting to watch so many beloved players leave the organization.

But perhaps the most underrated trade Nick Krall pulled off that summer was sending Tyler Naquin to the New York Mets in exchange for a pair of no-name prospects. Naquin was shipped to Queens, and in return, the Reds received right-hander Jose Acuña and outfielder Héctor Rodríguez.

Naquin ultimately flopped in New York and became a free agent after the 2022 season. Both Acuña, and Rodríguez, however, have shined during the early-going of the 2025 season. Rodríguez was recently named the Southern League Player of the Week after hitting .522/.542/.870 last week at Double-A Chattanooga. There's little doubt that Rodríguez's success has Mets' fans cursing former GM Billy Eppler all over again.

Surging Reds prospect, Héctor Rodríguez, will have NY Mets fans cursing Billy Eppler all over again

Eppler was in charge of the Mets' front office from 2021-2023, and oversaw New York's playoff run in 2022. After a massive spending spree blew up in the their face the following season, the Mets made a number of savvy trades at the 2023 MLB trade deadline that brought young players like Luisangel Acuña Jr., Ryan Clifford, Drew Gilbert, and Marco Vargas into the organization.

Most Mets fans credit Eppler for helping to quickly rebuild the team's farm system, but an MLB investigation that resulted in a one-year suspension and the team's underperformance in 2023 ultimately cost New York's top executive his job. Eppler has since been replaced by former Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns.

While Mets fans may have somewhat of a love-hate relationship with Eppler, the Cincinnati faithful are certainly thankful for the role he played the 2022 trade that brought Rodríguez and Acuña into the Reds organization. Rodríguez is riding a 12-game hit-streak while posting a .447/.480/.660 slash line and a 230 wRC+. Acuña, who's also at Double-A Chattanooga, is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 30 punch outs in 24 innings pitched.

Both prospects are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December, and on track to join the Reds 40-man roster at some point this year. As for Naquin, he crashed and burned with the Mets, hitting just .203/.246/.390 in 49 games with New York in 2022. He's since joined his old team—the Cleveland Guardians—and is attempting to make a comeback as a pitcher. Best of luck, Tyler, and thanks again, Billy.

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