Dunn

        CHICAGO — Reds general manager Jim Bowden said Tuesday that Triple-A Louisville left fielder Adam Dunn, currently the most exciting player in the Reds organiza tion, probably will be promoted to Cincinnati this season.

        “There's no question at some point this year he'll be in the major leagues,” Bowden said.

        But that's not likely to happen soon. Bowden continued to stress that the Reds don't want to promote Dunn, who's hitting .340 with 11 homers and 32 RBI with Louisville after beginning the year in Double-A Chattanooga, unless he can play every day.

        That would mean unseating one of the Reds' most productive players — left fielder Dmitri Young (.301 average enter ing Tuesday), right fielder Alex Ochoa (.310) or first baseman Sean Casey (.341), with Young moving to first.

        “The plan hasn't changed,” Bowden said. “But we have to pay attention to the monster year he's having. It's something we are monitoring. ... A player like Adam Dunn doesn't need to come up and platoon or sit. He needs to play.”

        Manager Bob Boone echoed Bowden's sentiment regarding Dunn's need to stay in the lineup. “There has to be a fit,” Boone said.

        But, Boone added: “I'm pleasantly surprised that he's handling Triple-A. I figure (he'll join the Reds in) September for sure. ... He's forcing himself into the picture sooner than we probably ever imagined.”

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