Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino heading to NPB

Aristides Aquino had taken the major leagues by storm during his time with the Cincinnati Reds back in 2019. Now, just four years later, he is looking to rebuild his career.

Aquino had been let go by the Reds in mid-November as they declined to tender him a contract. It did not take long for him to find a new job as Jon Morosi reported that Aquino has signed with Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball. Hector Gomez added that Aquino’s one year deal is worth $1.2 million with a $300,000 bonus.

Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino hoping to resurrect career

There was a time when Aquino had taken the majors by storm. He made an immediate impact when he returned to the majors during the 2019 season, hitting a major league record 13 homers in his first 100 plate appearances. Aquino ended the year with a .259/.316/.576 batting line with 19 homers in his 225 plate appearances that season, giving hope that he could be a part of the Reds’ future.

That was not to be the case as the 2019 season proved to be his high water mark. While Aquino still hit for power, he struggled to make consistent contact. He posted a .192/.272/.375 batting line in his 536 plate appearances since the beginning of the 2022 season, shuffling between Triple-A and the majors.

Maybe a sojourn to Japan will be what Aquino needs. Players have been able to rebuild their careers overseas, returning to the majors and becoming solid major league options. That could be the case with Aquino as well as he is just 28 years old. If he can improve his strikeout rate, he could attract plenty of attention next offseason.

Aristides Aquino had set the baseball world afire early in his Cincinnati Reds career. Now he is hoping to rebuild his career with the Chunichi Dragons.