The Reds optioned Dunn to Triple-A Louisville, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 26-man active roster for Jake Fraley' (personal), who was reinstated 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.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Goes hitless in start
Rotowire
Dunn started in center field and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Tigers.
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.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Heading to bench Sunday
Rotowire
Fairchild is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
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.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: In lineup against lefty
Rotowire
Dunn started in right field, batted ninth and went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees.
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.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Back with big club
Rotowire
The Reds recalled Dunn from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
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.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Optioned to Louisville
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Dunn to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.
Dunn was added to the Reds' roster June 4, and he managed to record one hit in 10 at-bats during his first seven games as a big-leaguer. The 25-year-old is slashing .216/.343/.372 in Triple-A and could return to the majors down the line if Cincinnati's outfield depth is tested.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Logs first MLB hit
Rotowire
Dunn started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 3-2 win over the Cubs.
Dunn legged out a double for his first hit in the majors then scored what turned out to be the winning run. He's started in left field twice -- both against left-handers -- since having his contract selected from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Hitless in MLB debut
Rotowire
Dunn started in left field and went 0-for-2 with a run scored in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Rockies.
Dunn was called up from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday and made his MLB debut. He batted eighth and was eventually pinch hit for by Will Benson in the sixth inning. Dunn gives the Reds a second right-handed bat off the bench to use against left-handers. Spencer Steer, who normally serves as the starting left fielder, has recently found himself at first base as the replacement for Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist).
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Batting eighth in debut
Rotowire
Dunn is in the Reds' lineup Tuesday versus the Rockies.
Dunn got the call-up fro Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He now finds himself set to make his MLB debut as the starting left fielder, batting eighth against left-hander Ty Blach. Spencer Steer is starting at first base, while outfielder Will Benson is out of the lineup.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Gets call-up from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Reds selected Dunn's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Dunn will hit the big leagues for the first time after slashing .223/.348/.378 with four home runs and nine stolen bases over 44 games this season with Louisville. The 25-year-old can handle all three outfield spots and could draw some starts against left-handed pitching.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Shakes off elbow issue
Rotowire
Dunn (elbow) will start at designated hitter and bat seventh in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Royals.
Dunn had been managing a sore elbow at the onset of camp, but the outfield prospect appears to have moved past the issue. He made his spring debut Friday and went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI while playing four innings in center field. The 25-year-old will now get his first start of the spring.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Managing elbow issue
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Manager David Bell noted Tuesday that Dunn is dealing with elbow irritation, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Dunn was invited to the Reds' camp this spring after batting .312 with a .947 OPS across High-A and Double-A in 2023. The 25-year-old prospect would add a right-handed bat to Cincinnati's outfield that consists of the lefty-hitting trio of TJ Friedl, Will Benson and Jake Fraley, so a good showing in spring training could help Dunn's chances of making his MLB debut this season. It's unclear whether the injury is expected to affect his availability for the start of the season.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Invited to camp
Rotowire
Dunn will participate in his first big-league camp this spring, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
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.
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Reds' Blake Dunn: Old, dominant at Double-A
Rotowire
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.
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 has primarily played center field, so he's not 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.
