Reds’ Hector Rodriguez Starts Hot At Double-A
When the Reds traded Tyler Naquin to the Mets at the 2022 trade deadline, they acquired two prospects who had barely played outside the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Cincinnati was looking to find young players it could develop. Dominican outfielder Hector Rodriguez was one of those players. He was just 18 years old at the time.
Fast-forward to 2025 and it seems that acquisition is paying off for the Reds.
Rodriguez kicked off his season at Double-A Chattanooga by going 3-for-4 with a double and a walk. That was a sign of what was to come in the first month of the season.
“Since he came over, he’s shown the ability to have natural hand-eye coordination, a feel to hit,” Reds senior director of player development Jeremy Farrell said.
Rodriguez batted .354/.414/.494 with two home runs and three stolen bases in 21 April games. The 21-year-old was the seventh-youngest player in the Southern League on Opening Day.
“He’s walking more than he ever has, looking to bunt more,” Farrell said, “and it’s translating to more success as he’s driving the ball and getting on base more.”
During the month of April, the lefthanded batter walked eight times. Rodriguez had never walked that many times in a single month since turning pro in 2021.
“There’s been conversations on honing in on areas of the zone that he does damage in, or more of an emphasis on situational hitting at times where his approach is matching what the game is telling him,” Farrell said.
“But it’s also some maturity as well. He’s spent the last two winters playing in the Dominican League. He’s just learning himself as a hitter and how to be successful in the box.”
