Reds Cut Ties with Former First-Round Pick Mat Nelson, Turning Focus to Top Prospect Alfredo Duno
The Cincinnati Reds have officially moved on from catcher Mat Nelson, their 2021 first-round pick out of Florida State University. According to the Chattanooga Lookouts’ transaction log, Nelson was released on Monday, July 21, ending a disappointing four-year run with the organization.
Nelson now joins a growing list of highly drafted Reds catching prospects—like Chris Okey and Mark Kolozsvary—who failed to develop into long-term contributors. Despite hopes that Nelson would break the cycle, his release marks another setback in the Reds’ ongoing search for a franchise catcher.
With Nelson gone, attention now shifts to Alfredo Duno, Cincinnati’s top catching prospect. The 19-year-old has impressed this season at Low-A Daytona, slashing .267/.411/.447, and recently appeared in the MLB Futures Game. Though still young, Duno is considered one of the organization’s most promising talents, and the Reds may need him to rise quickly—especially with Tyler Stephenson potentially hitting free agency after the 2026 season.
Nelson, a bat-first catcher taken with the 35th overall pick in 2021, showed flashes of power in the minors—hitting 21 homers between 2023 and 2024 with a .437 slugging percentage and 116 wRC+. However, his performance plummeted in Double-A. In 2023, he hit just .198/.328/.286, and his 2024 numbers were even worse: .088/.253/.138 with a 27 wRC+.
The Reds have used several recent draft picks on college catchers—Logan Tanner, Cade Hunter, and Connor Burns—but none have emerged as clear future starters. That puts added pressure on Duno, though the team is expected to take a cautious approach with his development.
Still, with another former top pick out of the picture, the Reds will be counting on Duno to finally deliver the long-term answer behind the plate they’ve been searching for.
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