Dayton Dragons: Duno catching on, adding to his prospect value for Reds

Apr. 20—Alfredo Duno's destination at the end of an inning doesn't change. When his pitchers cross the line, he greets them. Even when pitchers are met by an umpire for the random foreign-substance check, Duno waits.

Hand slap. Sometimes an arm around the shoulder. Always good words.

"He's one of those guys that hypes his pitchers up," Dayton Dragons reliever Jimmy Romano said. "He keeps them in the in the moment, keeps them focused."

Duno is a 20-year-old catcher for the Dayton Dragons and the No. 1 prospect in the Reds minor-league organization. His ranking stems from hitting ability. But everything he does well behind the plate ingratiates him with his pitchers, coaches and manager.

Duno's mentors mean a lot to him. Manager Julio Morillo caught in the minors, including parts of two seasons in Dayton. Bench coach Gustavo Molina caught parts of four seasons in the major leagues. All three are from Venezuela.

"Molina, he has helped me a lot, and then Julio gave me a lot of advice about catching, about calling the game and about the running game," Duno said.

Behind the plate Duno is imposing, He stands 6-foot-3, weighs over 240 pounds and provides a big target. He displays a variety of skills: people, receiving, throwing and calling the game.

The people skills begin by building trust in game preparation, consulting with the pitchers and helping to devise the game plan.

"He does watch hitters and what the hitters do but also his preparation," Morillo said. "Every night he knows the starting lineup. And what are the pitcher's strengths as well."

Then it's Duno's job to call the game, leaning into what his pitchers do well, what the hitters don't like and making adjustments as needed.

"Once you get on that mound it's just you and Duno," starter J.P. Ortiz said. "It's good having him behind the home plate, he calls a good game and he's always on you if he sees you struggling."

Starter Beau Blanchard said Duno is the best player he's ever played with.

"Love it," Blanchard said. "He knows how to call the game. He just takes control of the game. I trust him."

Romano loves the certainty Duno operates with behind the plate.

"He calls a pitch he wants to stick with it," Romano said. "Conviction ... that's the number one thing."

Morillo agrees with the assessments of the pitching staff.

"For a 20-year-old, to see that maturity in the way that he calls games, it's pretty good to see," he said. "I love the way that he takes charge of it. He knows when to slow the game down. Even if the pitcher needs a mound visit he will do it. He won't do it just to do it. He knows when to do it, and that's good to see in a 20-year-old."

Morillo has seen growth in Duno since 2024. Morillo was the manager in Daytona when Duno joined the Tortugas for 32 games as an 18-year-old. Then he managed Duno this past offseason in the Arizona Fall League.