Following the Aug. 2 trade deadline, the Cincinnati Reds were determined to give more playing time to shortstop Jose Barrero and outfielder Aristides Aquino throughout the final two months of the season.
It was an important evaluation period for both players. Barrero, the 24-year-old phenom, struggled at Triple-A after spring training hamate surgery, but this was a chance to prove he was as big of a part of the Reds’ future as young cornerstones Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson.
Aquino, 28, was the National League player of the month in Aug. 2019, but he has yet to replicate anywhere near that level of success.