CINCINNATI -- Not only is it a reward for prospects that have enjoyed a strong first half's worth of performances, but an invitation to the All-Star Futures Game often means that reaching the Major Leagues is right around the corner. The Reds will be sending two of their top 10 prospects to the 2025 All-Star Futures Game in third baseman Sal Stewart and catcher Alfredo Duno. The All-Star Futures Game will be played at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12, at Truist Park in Atlanta. It will air live on MLB Network and will be simulcast on MLB.TV, MLB.com and via the MLB app. "They've both got bright futures. It's a great event," Reds player development director Jeremy Farrell said on Tuesday. "Really good Major League players have played in that event in the past. These guys are on their way, working their way up the ladder and are getting closer to the big leagues." |
Stewart, 21, is ranked third in the organization and No. 62 overall by MLB Pipeline. In 72 games for Double-A Chattanooga this season, the right-handed hitter is batting .322/.385/.491 with 9 home runs and 43 RBIs entering Wednesday. A native of Miami, Fla. and the 32nd overall selection in the 2022 Draft, Stewart leads the Southern League in batting average and is among league leaders in doubles, on-base percentage and slugging. "It's just been the quality of the at-bats. He just continues to grow as a professional hitter," Farrell said. He's got an idea of what he's trying to do and he's able to execute. He's working hard to become a complete baseball player. He's working on his defense. He's working on his baserunning, so it's been a really good first half of the year for him." |
Last season for High-A Dayton, Stewart batted .279/.391/.454 with eight homers and 46 RBIs in 80 games. His season was cut short in July because of a right wrist laceration. During his first big league camp at Spring Training this year, Stewart wanted to show his skills were improved defensively -- both at third base and second base. The organization has seen progress. "We've been able to get him more consistent time at third base. He's really working hard at it," Farrell said. |
Signed out of Distrito Miranda, Venezuela, in 2023, Duno is ranked as Cincinnati's No. 7 prospect. Limited to 32 games last season because of a subluxation in his right ribs, he repeated at Single-A Daytona this season. Duno, 19, is batting .269/.419/.454 with 7 homers and 44 RBIs in 65 games this season. He is among league leaders in slugging, OPS and doubles (17) and is the league leader in RBIs. "He's been healthy and that's been the main thing," Farrell said. "He's learning to manage professional baseball as all young players learn to do. He's managing it in the Florida State League and it's starting to heat up down there and he's put together a solid first half as well." Included among the more recent Reds representatives to the Futures Game are current big leaguers Nick Lodolo (2021), Elly De La Cruz (2022), Andrew Abbott (2022), Noelvi Marte (2023) and Rhett Lowder (2024). |
|
|
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
NO TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE |
Lodolo, the Reds' left-handed starter, has one of the best curveballs in the game. During his first couple of seasons, he leaned on it heavily to rack up strikeouts -- especially to right-handed hitters. In 2023, he threw it a career-high 35.8 percent of the time. This season, it's 27.5 percent. On Sunday in a 5 1/3-inning no-decision vs. the Padres, Lodolo threw his breaking ball even less often (18 percent) but it was effective. With runners on first and second and two outs in the third inning, he threw back-to-back curveballs to Fernando Tatis Jr. The first broke inside for a swing and miss. The second landed on the outside corner for an inning-ending strike three. “I still would consider it my best pitch," Lodolo said. "I’m not really throwing two pitches anymore. I feel like I’ve got four different ones -- two different fastballs with the changeup -- so you’re mixing and matching a lot more so it might not seem like that. "Does it create the swing and miss it probably did before? No, I’m also not throwing it as much. I just still think it’s a good one for me and I’m going to get it in there." Lodolo is 5-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 17 starts this season. |
|
|
“That messaging for us is huge coming from him. I think we’ve been able to embody that as a team where we’re ready to play every day, that game, that matchup. I’m just happy with how we respond because obviously, as we get closer to the end of the year when the games have even more behind them, to have that ability to turn to the next day will be very important.” -- Will Benson, on manager Terry Francona stressing focus on the game in front of them and having short memories. |
The MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway is next month, on Aug. 2. To learn more about tickets and the event, click here. |
FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW |
|
|
To subscribe to Reds Beat, visit this page and mark "Reds Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Reds or that they're checked as your favorite team. |
|
|
|
