Remember when the Reds were saying Austin Kearns' stay in the majors would be short? They're not saying that anymore. An outfielder will be sent out when Ken Griffey Jr. comes off the disabled list in 10 days or so. But it won't necessarily be Kearns.

Aaron Boone greets Austin Kearns after Kearns' homer. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “We brought him up for a cup of coffee,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “It turned into a pot of coffee. Who knows? It might turn into a Starbucks.”

        Kearns, a 21-year-old right fielder, made his fifth straight start Friday night. He clearly has moved past Ruben Mateo on Bob Boone's depth chart.

        Kearns hit his second home run, a two-run shot, in his first at-bat Friday to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. He finished the night 2-for-2 with a walk, raising his average to .320.

        Kearns gives Boone what he covets most from his hitters: “professional at-bats.”

        Bowden said no decision has been made about who will be optioned when Griffey comes off the DL.

        “Ask me that question at the time,” Bowden said. “In the meantime, we want competition between Ruben and Austin. Players determine who we send out.”

        Mateo, 24, has hit well also. He entered Friday hitting .310 with a homer and three RBI in nine games.

        But Kearns is a better defensive player.

        It's doubtful the Reds would keep Kearns on the roster as an extra player, and the outfield of Adam Dunn, Griffey and Juan Encarnacion would seem set.

        Kearns is a right-handed hitter, so the Reds might decide they can get him enough at-bats by playing him instead of Dunn or Sean Casey against some left-handers and resting Griffey from time to time.

        What Kearns does over the next 10 days probably will determine the decision.

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