Aquino HR #8 – “A Loud Sound”

by — September 12, 2019 in Hitting Analysis

Aristides Aquino’s Timeline of Punishment

 

  1. First Major League Homer
  2. Obliteration
  3. Hardest Hit
  4. The (First) One Off Yu Darvish
  5. Start of a Huge Day
  6. Kyle Hendricks Tried Another Sinker
  7. Farthest Hit
  8. “A Loud Sound”
  9. Out of the Strike Zone
  10. Adam Wainwright Turned to Look Way Up
  11. “You Can’t Stop This Kid!”

[The eighth post in a series looking at Aristides Aquino’s home run streak. Yes, we understand this goes on as long as Aquino keeps hitting record-setting home runs and that might be a while. We’re prepared (and hopeful) for this to last through the end of the season.]

[Photo: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1161095862237433856]

Home Run #8

Aquino had homered three times on Saturday but none the next game. The Monday after, the Reds began as series in Washington D.C. against the Nationals. Aristides Aquino didn’t waste much time getting acquainted with the nation’s Capital. The Nats announcers described Aquino’s 8th home run as “crushed” and “that was a loud sound.”

Aquino came to the plate for the fourth time, batting fifth behind Josh VanMeter in the cleanup spot. This was his final plate appearance, he was 0-3 having struck out twice. Not this at bat.

Here is the graphic display.

[Graphic: Baseball Savant]

The Pitch

Aquino was facing Tanner Rainey. Rainey is a former Reds pitcher who had been traded to the Nationals during the last off-season for Tanner Roark. Rainey is known for a 98-mph fastball, but started Aquino off with an 88.1 mph slider. Aquino watched it go by. With a Eugenio Suarez on first base after hitting into a fielder’s choice (Joey Votto had walked to start the inning), Rainey didn’t want to walk Aquino or get further behind in the count.

Rainey’s 98.2 mph heater was center cut, just a bit inside, with not enough spin to keep it up in the zone. It arrived to the plate in a prime hitting zone. Aquino proceeded to turn Rainey’s bread-and-butter into burnt toast.

The Hit

Aquino was 100% sitting fastball from Rainey. And it was straight. Aquino hit it with an exit velocity of 105.8 mph. The launch angle of 27º has become Aquino’s preferred arc, with 5 of his 15 home runs at that angle. This ball was hit to deep right centerfield. [Click on the picture to see the video.]

The ball had traveled 425 feet.

The History

Aquino became the first Major League player in history to hit 8 home runs in his first 12 games. It was his 35th major league plate appearance.

[Photo: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1161290089420472320]

The Game

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The Reds lost 7-6. The game ended with two runners on base and Aquino on deck as a late Reds rally fell short.

[Featured image: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1161095862237433856]

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Steve Mancuso

Steve Mancuso is a lifelong Reds fan who grew up during the Big Red Machine era. He’s been writing about the Reds for more than ten years. Steve’s fondest memories about the Reds include attending a couple 1975 World Series games, being at Homer Bailey’s second no-hitter and going nuts for Jay Bruce at Clinchmas. Steve was also at all three games of the 2012 NLDS, but it’s too soon to talk about that.

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