Alfredo Duno isn’t the Cincinnati Reds catcher yet, but he’s close

The Cincinnati Reds face uncertainty at catcher heading into the offseason after Tyler Stephenson enters free agency, leaving Jose Trevino and Will Banfield as their only controlled options. Prospect Alfredo Duno, a 20-year-old Venezuelan catcher, has emerged as the organization's long-term solution at the position after hitting .322/.406/.488 in 138 plate appearances at Double-A Chattanooga in 2026. Duno projects as both a strong defender and offensive contributor, with a minor league career batting average of .285 and slugging percentage of .499 across 1,262 plate appearances. The Reds will likely advance Duno to Triple-A in 2027, potentially positioning him for a mid-season MLB debut similar to recent young catchers like Ethan Salas and Samuel Basallo.

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