Reds rookie Aristides Aquino adds another home run record to his collection
The legend of Aristides Aquino continues to grow.
The Cincinnati Reds rookie outfielder has been a home run-hitting and record-setting machine since his call up on Aug. 1. On Friday, he added yet another record to his collection.
With his two-run home run in the sixth inning against St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, the 24-year-old Aquino became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 10 career home runs.
Another day, another record for The Punisher! 💀
His 10 dingers are the most by any player in MLB history in the modern era in his first 16 career games. (via @EliasSports)#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/0kC5tuH5nl— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 17, 2019
Aquino reached 10 home runs in just 16 games, beating the mark of 17 games set by Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins in 2017.
He’s done so by hitting a home run once every five career at-bats.
Sustainable? Surely not.
Remarkable? Undoubtedly.
Even more so when you consider he wasn’t exactly a top prospect coming into the season. In fact, the Reds didn’t originally tender Aquino a contract during the offseason, which briefly made him a free agent. He ended up re-signing with the Reds.
Now he’s looking like a potential power source for years to come.
Aquino was inserted into the lineup on Aug. 1, two days after the Reds traded Yasiel Puig to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Trevor Bauer in a three-team deal that also included the San Diego Padres. Prior to that, he’d only had one major league at-bat — a strikeout against the San Francisco Giants.
He’s found his groove now. He already has a three-home run game to his credit, and he’s racking up several MLB firsts.
We don’t know how long it will last, but we know it’s been fun to watch.
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