SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It took a little longer than expected, but the Alfredo Duno Show finally erupted in the Arizona Fall League — and in spectacular fashion. The Reds’ No. 2 prospect blasted three home runs totaling 1,290 feet in Peoria’s 9-4 win over Scottsdale in Thursday’s AFL Semifinal at Salt River Fields.
“This is a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Duno said through interpreter and Peoria manager Julio Morillo. “It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Duno wasted no time getting started, crushing a 102.5 mph, three-run homer in the first inning to give Peoria a lead it never lost. In the fifth, he launched a 453-foot shot — then topped it in the ninth with a 456-foot no-doubter at 109.1 mph, completing a six-RBI masterpiece.
Despite not homering once during the Fall League regular season while hitting .213 with a .654 OPS, Duno stuck with his adjustments. His two-run homer in Wednesday’s playoff opener set the tone for Thursday’s breakout. His three-homer, six-RBI performance is the first of its kind in AFL playoff play since at least 2005 and matches his career-best RBI mark from the 2023 Dominican Summer League.
“Only 19 years old and he’s doing that? It’s special,” Reds pitcher Johnathan Harmon said. “He comes ready to work every day. He’s a special guy.”
At 19, Duno is the fourth-youngest position player in the 2025 AFL and is coming off a standout first full season in pro ball, leading the Single-A Florida State League with 18 homers and finishing with a 164 wRC+, fifth-best among full-season Minor Leaguers.
While his power has drawn the headlines, the Fall League is also giving Duno valuable reps behind the plate. After nearly 700 innings catching for Daytona — where he had nine errors and 13 passed balls — he’s been nearly flawless in Peoria, committing just one error with no passed balls. He even made a smart defensive play late in the game, choosing to throw out the trailing runner on a steal rather than force a risky play at third.
Reds No. 5 prospect Rhett Lowder worked with Duno earlier this fall and praised his instincts and communication. Harmon, who rehabbed alongside Duno last year, said Thursday was their first real game together — and he quickly learned not to shake off Duno’s pitch calls.
“I’m not shaking him off again,” Harmon said with a laugh. “He takes pride in catching. He’s a really good player.”
Duno knows his long-term success depends on more than just his power bat: “The biggest part of the game isn’t just hitting — it’s being able to catch and handle a pitching staff. I’m focused on proving I can do both.”
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