The Cincinnati Reds will be losing a key contributor from recent years.
Outfielder and slugger Aristides Aquino has decided to play in Japan.
On Thursday, the free agent outfielder signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball league.
The 28-year-old burst onto the scene for the Reds in 2019, hitting 19 home runs and driving in 47 runs in just 56 games.
The outfielder had made his debut in 2018, but exceeded rookie limits in 2019.
The slugger then began to decline.
This season, Aquino hit just .197 with 10 home runs in 259 at-bats, posting a 1.4 WAR in the process.
MLB insider Hector Gomez provided the news.
Aquino Heads For Japan
Aquino saw his playing time increase in 2022 after Cincinnati had traded away Jesse Winker and lost Nick Castellanos in free agency.
Tommy Pham was also traded to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline, opening up more opportunities for Aquino.
Over the first five seasons of his MLB career, Aquino batted just .211 and hit only 41 home runs in 686 at-bats, amassing a total of 145 hits and posting a 2.1 WAR.
The Reds recently designated Aquino for assignment
Cincinnati finished the season with 100 losses and tied for last place in the National League Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The departure of the slugger could potentially open up a spot in the Reds outfield for 2023.
Once known as “The Punisher,” Aquino will now have a chance to re-invent himself in Japan with a new team.
Current in-house outfield options include TJ Friedl, Nick Senzel, Stuart Fairchild, and Jake Fraley.
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