Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Kearns plans a short stay in Louisville
Reds could recall him this week
By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Monday was team-picture day at Louisville Slugger Field, and Austin Kearns took his place in the portrait as the Bats' newest member.
If things go as well as Kearns hopes, he'll be out of town before the film develops.
“They said it could be 4-5 days,” Kearns told the Courier-Journal, “or it could be a week, two weeks. So you never know. They told me I was going to be up there (in Cincinnati) for four days (in April), and I ended up being there over two months.”
The Reds' rookie outfielder was demoted to Triple-A to make room for right-hander Luis Pineda, who was called up Sunday. The Reds need another pitcher in the bullpen now that the status of left-hander Gabe White (infected pitching hand) is unknown.
But with outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. plagued with an uncertain hamstring and White close to the disabled list, Kearns could join the Reds in Chicago or St. Louis later this week.
Kearns, the National League rookie of the month for May, struggled with his emotions when he found out about the transaction Sunday. But his spirits improved upon arriving in Louisville on Monday.
“I really wasn't surprised,” Kearns said. “It was something that caught me off guard a little bit. But I'm happy to be here, and I'm just going to come out here and have fun.”
Kearns was hitting .284 in Cincinnati, but faltered lately, going 2-for-26. It didn't help that he wasn't playing everyday once Griffey returned to the Reds' lineup.
“I think it will help a lot,” Kearns said of being in the lineup in Louisville. “It's tough when you're kind of struggling at the plate and you're not in there every day. Being in here every day can only help. That rotation thing (in Cincinnati) was kind of making it tough on everybody.”
By showing up, Kearns displayed his acceptance of the demotion. He skipped two days of practice in late March when he discovered he would begin the season in Double-A Chattanooga rather than in Louisville.
“I was a little more upset in spring training than I was (Sunday),” Kearns said. “I understood the reasoning behind it here. I'm the guy with the options and I needed to play every day. I understand that, and I wanted to play every day, so it's fine with me.”
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Kearns plans a short stay in Louisville
