Adam Dunn (6-6, 250) hits with power, hits for average and steals bases. (Ernest Coleman photos) | ZOOM |

        LOUISVILLE — When Adam Dunn came to the plate Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field, he could feel the breeze blowing off the Ohio River. He could watch the barges go by, beyond the outfield wall. Only 100 miles of muddy water separate Dunn from another ballpark, Cinergy Field, on the Ohio.

        But, figuratively, the jump from Triple-A ball at Louisville to big-league ball at Cincinnati is huge. Even for someone as talented as Dunn.

        Talk show callers and frustrated Reds fans may assume Louisville is a short rest stop on the way to Cincinnati for Dunn. After all, he needed just 39 games of Double-A ball before recently advancing to Triple-A. And Dunn is the Reds' most intriguing and probably best prospect. He's the size of St.Louis Cardinals power hitter Mark McGwire, (6 feet 6, 250 pounds) and he stole more bases (24) last year than anyone on the parent Reds except Pokey Reese (29).

        But Dunn and the Reds brass preach patience.

        “He's knows he's not ready,” general manager Jim Bowden said. “Defensively and instinctively, he has some things to work on. He's only 21 years old.”

        Dunn agrees.

        “I'm a pretty bad outfielder,” he said. “I've tried to work on it. I just need to work on my overall game. Baserunning. Everything.”

Dunn had three HR's in his first 20 at-bats at Louisville. | ZOOM |

        The Reds are confident Dunn will get to the big leagues. He certainly seems part of the 2003 plan when Great American Ball Park opens.

        But he doesn't have any dates circled on his calendar.

        “There's no timetable,” he said. “When you do that, you're disappointed if you don't meet it. I would have been happy to spend the year in Double-A.”

        Bowden said the Dunn decision will be a baseball one, even though the longer Dunn is kept in the minors, the longer before he will be eligible for salary arbitration or free agency.

        “That's not a concern,” Bowden said.

        With Cincinnati and its punchless offense struggling at 19-27 this year, Dunn offers some hope for the near future and beyond. On a Triple-A roster full of 28- and 29-year-old journeymen minor-leaguers, Dunn is 21 and a prospect.

        “He's legit,” said Gary Hughes, the team's director of pro scouting. “He's come with a big buildup. In a lot of cases, it's not legitimate. In his case, it is.”

        This is only Dunn's third year of playing baseball full time. He was drafted in the second round in 1998, but he played in just 34 games of rookie ball before leaving to play football at Texas, where he was a quarterback.

        He gave up football in the spring of 1999.

        “I always knew I'd eventually play baseball full time,” he said.

Dunn talks with RiverBats manager Mike Miley. | ZOOM |

        Dunn hit .307 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 93 games at Single-A Rockford in '99. He stole 21 bases.

        His numbers last year — .281, 16 HRs, 79 RBI at Single-A Dayton — were overshadowed by teammate Austin Kearns' (.306, 27 HRs, 104 RBI). Kearns was the No.1 pick in 1998, ahead of Dunn.

        But Dunn dominated at Double-A Chattanooga this season. He was hitting .343 with 12 homers and 31 RBI when the Reds promoted him to Louisville.

        He entered Thursday's game for the RiverBats with only four hits in 20 at-bats (.200). But three of the four were home runs.

        “He's held his own,” Louisville manager Dave Miley said. “He's got three home runs and five walks. He's made the plays in the field.”

        Dunn is a disciplined hitter. He walked 100 times in 122 games last year.

        “For a guy his size, he has a very good eye and know- ledge of the strike zone,” Louisville hitting coach Brook Jacoby said.

        Dunn has noticed the difference between Double-A and Triple-A.

        “Here, everything hit in the air is caught,” he said. “The pitchers are much more consistent. They throw all their pitches for strikes.”

        Dunn hasn't been overwhelmed by it.

        “You've got to know Adam Dunn,” Miley said. “He's got great confidence in his ability. He's not cocky. He just believes in his ability.”

Dunn gives Reds McGwire-sized hope for future Hill: 'I still can pitch' Cubs 3, Reds 0 Bell hit in head by line drive Cubs' Lieber makes it look easy Wells to Reds? Forget it Prodigy, pitching propel Cards Reds-Cardinals Scouting Report Reds box, runs

Few seat holders oppose deal
DAUGHERTY: Bengals take customers for a ride
Scott still no-show at Bengals' workouts
Copeland returns at big pay cut
UC's Peek wins student-athlete award
Xavier likely to save last two scholarships
Fultz fails to make Winston Cup race
Pitching pushes CCD
Hitting lifts Mariemont
Regional baseball schedule
State tennis tourney begins today
Hamilton squeaks into softball final
Softball schedule
Regional track highlights
Boys lacrosse results
Boys volleyball schedule
N.Ky. baseball highlights
N.Ky. baseball schedule
N.Ky. boys track preview
N.Ky. girls track preview
N.Ky. track results
N.Ky. softball highlights
N.Ky. softball schedule

• Return to Reds front page...