Alfredo Duno

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Venezuela’s Ethan Salas was viewed as the top catcher in the 2023 international class, a status he quickly reinforced with an exceptional pro debut for the Padres that saw him reach Double-A as a 17-year-old. Duno, also a Venezuelan, was the second-best catching prospect in the class. Duno is on a more traditional timetable, but he also has a shot to be a long-term major league regular. Duno told the Reds his arm felt sore in the work up to the start of the Dominican Summer League season. Exams found no structural damage, but when the soreness remained, the Reds decided to have him DH exclusively while participating in all catcher’s drills except for throwing.
  
  Scouting Report: Duno is an excellent athlete for an already filled-out teenage catcher with a 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame. He’s a fringe-average runner for now and swiped six bags in six attempts in the DSL, though catching will likely sap that speed eventually. Offensively, Duno’s combination of excellent bat speed, plus raw power and solid swing decisions gives him a chance to develop into a 20-plus home run hitter with an average hit tool. His bat should play at multiple positions, but he has the mindset and tools to stick behind the plate. Defensively, Duno has the tools to be at least an above-average receiver and blocker with soft hands. While his arm soreness kept the Reds from seeing it in 2023, he’s shown a plus to plus-plus arm in the past.
  
  The Future: Duno should get to go back behind the plate in 2024, when he’ll head to the U.S. to play in the Arizona Complex League. He’s the Reds’ best young catching prospect since the organization drafted Tyler Stephenson in 2015.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #14 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Duno is one of the most promising players in the 2023 international class as a well-rounded catcher who has a shot to produce both offensively and defensively. Unlike most 16-year-olds, there's not a lot of projection with Duno. He's already built like a big league catcher, as a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder.
  
  Scouting Report: Duno's array of future outcomes spans the gamut from becoming a glove-first catcher to other paths where he becomes a plus-plus power slugger who eventually also plays other positions. Duno has a plus arm already and it could end up as a plus-plus arm, and he has worked on his mechanics to have a quick exchange. He also has soft hands and moves well behind the plate despite his size. He's big for a catcher, but he shows the lateral movement to stick behind the plate. Offensively, he's got plenty of bat speed and plus present raw power that could end up being plus-plus as he matures. His ability to get to that power potential will be dependent on how quickly he can refine his swing, as sometimes his lower half and upper half aren't always in sync, but he shows solid barrel control as well and good hand-eye coordination. Duno is an average runner for now, but like most catchers, he can be expected to slow down as the wear and tear of catching takes its toll.
  
  The Future: Duno is yet another example of the Reds' recent shift to international signees with excellent present baseball skills to go with solid tools. Duno is a relatively polished player for his age, but in his case, he's also one with rare athleticism for his size. He'll get to make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League later in 2023. It would not be a surprise if he was one ofthe Reds top 10 prospects before too long.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45. Power: 55. Field: 50. Run: 45. Arm: 60.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #99 prospect in 2024

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Duno is one of the most promising players in the 2023 international class as a well-rounded catcher who has a shot to produce both offensively and defensively. Unlike most 16-year-olds, there's not a lot of projection with Duno. He's already built like a big league catcher, as a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder.
  
  Scouting Report: Duno's array of future outcomes spans the gamut from becoming a glove-first catcher to other paths where he becomes a plus-plus power slugger who eventually also plays other positions. Duno has a plus arm already and it could end up as a plus-plus arm, and he has worked on his mechanics to have a quick exchange. He also has soft hands and moves well behind the plate despite his size. He's big for a catcher, but he shows the lateral movement to stick behind the plate. Offensively, he's got plenty of bat speed and plus present raw power that could end up being plus-plus as he matures. His ability to get to that power potential will be dependent on how quickly he can refine his swing, as sometimes his lower half and upper half aren't always in sync, but he shows solid barrel control as well and good hand-eye coordination. Duno is an average runner for now, but like most catchers, he can be expected to slow down as the wear and tear of catching takes its toll.
  
  The Future: Duno is yet another example of the Reds' recent shift to international signees with excellent present baseball skills to go with solid tools. Duno is a relatively polished player for his age, but in his case, he's also one with rare athleticism for his size. He'll get to make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League later in 2023. It would not be a surprise if he was one ofthe Reds top 10 prospects before too long.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45. Power: 55. Field: 50. Run: 45. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Duno is one of the most promising players in the 2023 international class as a well-rounded catcher who has a shot to produce both offensively and defensively. Unlike most 16-year-olds, there's not a lot of projection with Duno. He's already built like a big league catcher, as a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder.
  
  Scouting Report: Duno's array of future outcomes spans the gamut from becoming a glove-first catcher to other paths where he becomes a plus-plus power slugger who eventually also plays other positions. Duno has a plus arm already and it could end up as a plus-plus arm, and he has worked on his mechanics to have a quick exchange. He also has soft hands and moves well behind the plate despite his size. He's big for a catcher, but he shows the lateral movement to stick behind the plate. Offensively, he's got plenty of bat speed and plus present raw power that could end up being plus-plus as he matures. His ability to get to that power potential will be dependent on how quickly he can refine his swing, as sometimes his lower half and upper half aren't always in sync, but he shows solid barrel control as well and good hand-eye coordination. Duno is an average runner for now, but like most catchers, he can be expected to slow down as the wear and tear of catching takes its toll.
  
  The Future: Duno is yet another example of the Reds' recent shift to international signees with excellent present baseball skills to go with solid tools. Duno is a relatively polished player for his age, but in his case, he's also one with rare athleticism for his size. He'll get to make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League later in 2023. It would not be a surprise if he was one ofthe Reds top 10 prospects before too long.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45. Power: 55. Field: 50. Run: 45. Arm: 60.