After the Cincinnati Reds traded away meteoric outfielder Yasiel Puig to the Cleveland Indians just before last month’s MLB Trade Deadline, many were unsure if the team had another player of Puig’s caliber to replace his production in the outfield.
It turns out that rookie outfielder Aristides Aquino has been more than up to the task.
The 25-year-old newcomer blasted a solo home run off of Washington Nationals reliever Tanner Rainey on Monday night, the eighth home run that he has hit in his first 12 games since being called up. That is the most home runs ever hit by a rookie in the first twelve games since his call-up.
Aquino, a native of the Dominican Republic, has been unstoppable since making his season debut on August 1st against the Atlanta Braves. After hitting his first career home run in Atlanta on the 3rd of this month, he has gradually gotten hotter, blasting another home run in a short two-game series against the Angels, and then exploding for five home runs in the Reds’ weekend series against the Cubs.
His solo shot on Monday night in the Reds’ series opener at Nationals Park traveled 425 feet to right-center field, showing off the impressive power that has become the rookie’s hallmark since making his debut at the beginning of the month.
Aquino will look to continue his historic hot streak on Tuesday against the Nats.
