Reds manager Bob Boone thought Austin Kearns was 22 years old.

        “I'm not sure,” Boone said. “But if I was betting a dollar, I'd say 22.”

        Just then Kearns walked by.

        “How old are you, Austin?” Boone asked.

        “Twenty-one,” Kearns said.

        That's in human years. In baseball years, Kearns is a veteran.

        “He's the most professional hitter I've got right now,” Boone said.

        Kearns' numbers since his April 17 promotion bear that out.

        Kearns leads the Reds regulars in average (.400), slugging percentage (.633) and on-base percentage (.528).

        “He waits for a pitch he can handle every time up and he puts a good swing on it,” Boone said. “He doesn't always hit it, but he always takes a good swing.”

        Kearns' ability to work the count is exceptional. He's third on the team in walks (11), even through he has started only half of the 32 games.

        Kearns probably hit his best shot as a Red Tuesday, a blast high off the 40-foot wall in center field.

        “That's as well as I can hit one,” he said. “I've got to get a little more elevation or pick a side.”

Surprising Reds reminiscent of '99 Reds 14, Brewers 5 Reds box, runs Griffey closer to playing Kearns' maturity shows Reds Notebook: Brewers (9-25) have sinking feeling Diamondbacks 4, Pirates 3 Angels 3, Tigers 2 Mariners 5, Blue Jays 4 Red Sox 12, Athletics 6

• Return to Reds front page...