Blake Dunn - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates | FOX Sports

Blake Dunn looks to give Reds a spark vs. Pirates Rookie Blake Dunn will try to keep giving the Reds a reason to show up to the ballpark when Cincinnati opens a three-game series with the vi...

SEPTEMBER 20 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Homer, two steals Thursday Dunn went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, two stolen bases and three total runs scored in Thursday's 15-3 loss to Atlanta.

Impact It was a rough day for the Reds overall, though Dunn provided a bright spot -- the 26-year-old outfielder swiped his first two bases in the majors before swatting his first big-league homer, a 422-foot blast off Chris Sale. Dunn had gone just 2-for-21 in 16 games prior to Thursday. He'll likely fill a bench role for Cincinnati over the final week of the season.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Reds DFA 1B Dominic Smith, add OF Blake Dunn The Cincinnati Reds designated first baseman Dominic Smith for assignment on Monday and recalled outfielder Blake Dunn from Triple-A Louisvi...

SEPTEMBER 2 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Recalled from Triple-A The Reds recalled Dunn from Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Impact Dunn went just 1-for-18 with seven strikeouts over his first two stints in the majors, but he'll now be called upon to give the Reds some additional depth in the outfield. Dominic Smith was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

SEPTEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Reds optioned Dunn to Triple-A Louisville, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact The transaction frees up a spot for Jake Fraley's return from the family medical emergency list. Dunn has gone just 1-for-18 at the dish during his brief time with the Reds this season.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Goes hitless in start Dunn started in center field and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Tigers.

Impact Dunn finished the weekend hitless with three strikeouts in four at-bats, with the other two at-bats coming in the Reds' 5-3 loss Saturday, when he came off the bench as a replacement for the injured Nick Martini (thumb). Martini was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, but Dunn entered the starting nine in the series finale as a replacement for Stuart Fairchild, who is day-to-day with a back injury. If Fairchild's injury ultimately forces him to the IL, Dunn could have a path to more consistent playing time, though the Reds swung a trade late Sunday to bring aboard additional outfield depth in the form of Austin Slater.

JULY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Heading to bench Sunday Fairchild is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.

Impact Blake Dunn will get the nod in center field while Fairchild sits for the series finale. Fairchild had started in 12 of the previous 13 games, slashing .256/.289/.395 with one home run and four stolen bases over that stretch. Despite his middling production at the plate this season, Fairchild should hold down a near-everyday role in the Cincinnati outfield until TJ Friedl (hamstring) returns from the injured list.

JULY 7 • ROTOWIRE

In lineup against lefty Dunn started in right field, batted ninth and went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees.

Impact Dunn was called up ahead of Wednesday's game and added to the lineup to give the Reds an all righty-hitting outfield against a left-hander. This is the second stint in the majors this season for Dunn, who is 1-for-13 with a walk, double and run scored over eight games.

JULY 4 • ROTOWIRE

Back with big club The Reds recalled Dunn from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact The Reds wanted more of a pure outfielder on the bench rather than Levi Jordan, who can play the outfield but who is an infielder by trade. Dunn went 1-for-10 at the dish in an earlier stint in the majors.

JULY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Invited to camp Dunn will participate in his first big-league camp this spring, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Impact Dunn experienced his first healthy season in 2023, batting .312 with a .947 OPS, 23 home runs and 54 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A. The right-handed hitter was just the fifth player in the last 30 years to produce a 20-homer, 50-steal season in the minors. He was limited by injuries after being drafted in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Western Michigan before breaking out in 2023. While Dunn is already 25, his 163 wRC+ at Chattanooga and 149 for Dayton are hard to ignore. The Reds' outfield leans to the left, so a right-handed swinger with pop might find a path to the majors.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Old, dominant at Double-A Dunn is hitting .347/.439/.577 with 14 home runs, 33 steals and a 23.7 percent strikeout rate in 70 games for Double-A Chattanooga.

Impact Dunn is a tough prospect to evaluate, as he just turned 25 years old earlier this week before playing a game at Triple-A, and he as been quite lucky on balls in play (.433 BABIP) at Double-A. On the flip side, he logged a 179 wRC+ at Single-A in 2022, a 149 wRC+ at High-A this year and a 168 wRC+ at Double-A, so he has only succeeded, and he has primarily played center field, so we're not talking about a player who is already at the bottom of the defensive spectrum. Dunn does not need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason, but he will likely get an invitation to big-league spring training before opening 2024 with Triple-A Louisville.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE