Aguiar allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings in Saturday's spring game against the Guardians.
Aguiar stepped on a big-league mound in a game setting for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024. He was the third of three candidates for the final spot in the Reds rotation to pitch in the Cactus League opener, as Chase Burns started the game followed by Rhett Lowder. Aguiar threw 30 pitches (18 strikes) and used all the pitches in his arsenal, but he didn't face the toughest competition as Cleveland's expected regulars were out of the game by the time Aguiar entered in the fifth inning.