By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn talk between turns at bat. (Jeff Swinger photos) | ZOOM |

Kearns fires the ball back to the infield. | ZOOM |

Dunn tosses the ball with DeShane Larkin, 10 (son of Barry Larkin). | ZOOM |

Ken Griffey Jr. watches as Kearns measures a fly ball. | ZOOM |

Larkin and his son DeShane stretch together during Spring Training workouts. | ZOOM |

Campy at camp: Dunn and Griffey fake a collision while playing outfield. | ZOOM |

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ask 10 members of the Reds braintrust who is going to be the better player, Austin Kearns or Adam Dunn, and you'll likely get five votes for each player.

It's an argument without losers, as far as the Reds are concerned.

"It's nice to have them both," said special assistant Al Goldis.

The rationale behind the opinions on Dunn and Kearns is the same as it was when the Reds picked Kearns and Dunn No. 1 and 2 in the 1998 draft: Kearns is the more polished baseball player; Dunn has more raw talent and potential.

"That's still true," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "But both have ceilings that are off the charts."

The Reds have taken criticism about their lack of direction recently. But the fact that Dunn, 23, and Kearns, 22, will be flanking Ken Griffey Jr. in the starting outfield is the result of a long-range plan coming to fruition.

"We knew we weren't going to be able to afford to sign No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters like a Fred McGriff," Bowden said. "That's why we drafted (Brandon) Larson, Kearns and Dunn. Once we got them, we emphasized pitching."

Whether or not the pitching prospects turn out is still a matter of debate. Dunn and Kearns are better bets at this point, even though they have only 1,151 big league at-bats between them.

But to get two players like Dunn and Kearns in one draft is rare.

"It's rare to get one," Bowden said. "So it's extremely rare to get two."

The way the Reds got Kearns and Dunn was as different as the men are as players.

Kearns was a known commodity. He was a top prospect as a pitcher by the time he was a junior in high school. Baseball was the only sport he played. He had played on a national championship Babe Ruth team as a 12 year old.

"He was polished, more of a baseball player," said Johnny Almaraz, the Reds assistant director of scouting.

Pretty much the entire Reds baseball staff made a trek down to Lafayette High in Lexington to check out Kearns just before the draft. After the game that day, the Reds had him hit with a wood bat. After he hit a dozen or so balls onto the school roof, , which sits behind the baseball field, the decision was made.

"I got in the car and said, 'He's Mike Piazza, we're going to take him,' " Bowden said.

The Reds picked Kearns with the seventh overall pick.

Dunn dabbled in baseball throughout high school. He also played basketball. But both were a distant second or third to football.

"I played basketball to keep in shape," Dunn said. "Baseball was something to do until 7-on-7 football started."

Dunn, of course, was a star quarterback. He threw for 4,792 yards and 44 touchdowns at New Caney High and was headed for the University of Texas. That's something you don't mess with in the Lonestar State. A lot of scouts didn't.

"They knew the lure of playing football for Texas," Almaraz said. "A lot of them didn't even go into his home."

Almaraz did because of the lure of Dunn's ability.

"The first time I saw him swing," Almaraz said, "he fouled a pitch straight back. But the way the bat went through the hitting zone, the velocity and great power, was incredible. I remember that swing like it was yesterday."

After Almaraz saw Dunn run (he was clocked in 4.1 seconds down the first-base line, faster than the major league average) and throw (he hit 94 mph as a pitcher), he decided to pursue him. .

He convinced the Reds that Dunn would still be available at the 50th pick because of the football factor.

"We felt like we were getting two first-round picks," Bowden said.

Dunn was up front with Almaraz from the beginning: He was going to try football to see if he could be a Texas quarterback, but if they tried to move him to another position, he'd switch to baseball.

That's exactly what happened. Texas talked about moving him to tight end, and Dunn became a full-time baseball player in 1999.

The Reds had their corner outfielders and fourth and fifth hitters of the future.

Dunn and Kearns have been roommates all the way up the minor-league ladder. They've both been good at every level.

Who's been better? Depends on what year. Kearns was better in 1998, 2000 and 2002. Dunn was better in 1999 and 2001.

Dunn made it to the big leagues quicker with his breakout year in 2001 when he went from Double-A to the Reds.

Kearns, troubled by a bad thumb in 2001, made it to the big leagues last year. He might have won the Rookie of the Year award had he not pulled a hamstring and missed the last five weeks.

Each admires the other.

Dunn on Kearns: "He does everything well. He can bunt, move the runner over, things that I have problems with."

Kearns on Dunn: "Everyone can see his potential with his size and strength."

Kearns is 6-foot-3, 246 pounds. That would make him by far the biggest player on the Big Red Machine. Dunn is much bigger - 6-6, 270.

But Dunn is the faster of the two. In fact, he had the second-best time of any Red in agility testing. But Kearns is a smarter base-runner.

Dunn's strength gives him tremendous power. Kearns hits for a better average.

Dunn walks more.

"Kearns will be a Gold Glove right fielder and hit .300," one front office person said. "But Dunn has a chance to be a unbelievable."

Whether production meets expectations this season remains to be seen.

Dunn struggled in the second half last season, batting .190 with only nine home runs after the All-Star break.

Kearns got better as last season progressed - he hit .280 the first half, .361 the second - but pitchers surely will make adjustments.

So who will be better?

We'll know in about 10 years. For now, it's an argument the Reds can't lose.

Adam Dunn

Yr.	Club	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI
98	Billings-R	.288	34	125	26	36	4	13
99	Rockford-A	.307	93	313	62	96	11	44
00	Dayton-A	.281	122	420	101	118	16	79
01	Chattanooga-AA	.343	39	140	30	48	12	31
01	Louisville-AAA	.329	55	210	44	69	20	53
01	Cincinnati	.262	66	244	54	64	19	43
02	Cincinnati	.249	158	535	84	133	26	71
Minor Totals		.304	343	1208	263	367	63	220
Major Totals		.253	224	779	138	197	45	114

Austin Kearns

Yr.	Club	Avg.	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI
98	Billings-R	.315	30	108	17	34	1	14
99	Rockford-A	.258	124	426	72	110	13	48
00	Dayton-A	.306	136	484	110	148	27	104
01	Chattanooga-AA	.268	59	205	30	55	6	36
01	GCL Reds-R	.176	6	17	2	3	0	4
02	Chattanooga -AA	.268	12	41	10	11	5	13
02	Louisville-AAA	.750	1	4	3	3	0	2
02	Cincinnati	.315	107	372	66	117	13	56
Minor Totals		.283	368	1285	244	364	52	221
Major Totals		.315	107	372	66	117	13	56

1998 draft

Here is a look at the 1998 draft, which netted the Reds Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn:

1. Phillies. Pat Burrell, 1b, U. of Miami

2. Athletics. Mark Mulder, lhp, Mich. St.

3. Cubs. Corey Patterson, of, HS, Ga.

4. Royals. Jeff Austin, rhp, Stanford

5. Cardinals. J.D. Drew, of, St. Paul/Northern League

6. Twins. Ryan Mills, lhp, Arizona St.

7. Reds. Austin Kearns, of, HS-Lexington, Ky.

8. Blue Jays. Felipe Lopez, ss, HS, Fla.

9. Padres. Sean Burroughs, 3b, HS, Calif.

10. Rangers. Carlos Pena,1b, Northeastern

11. Expos. Josh McKinley, ss, HS, Pa.

12. Red Sox. Adam Everett, ss, S. Carolina

13. Brewers. J.M. Gold, rhp, HS, N.J.

14. Tigers. Jeff Weaver, rhp, Fresno St.

15. Pirates. Clint Johnson, lhp, Vanderbilt

16. White Sox. Kip Wells, rhp, Baylor U.

17. Astros. Brent Lidge, rhp, Notre Dame

18. Angels. Seth Etherton, rhp, Southern Cal

19. Giants. Tony Torcato, 3b, HS, Calif.

20. Indians. C.C. Sabathia, lhp, HS, Calif.

21. Mets. Jason Tyner, of, Texas A&M

22. Mariners. Matt Thornton, lhp, Grand Valley St.

23. Dodgers. Bubba Crosby, of, Rice U.

24. Yankees. Andy Brown, of, HS, Ind.

25. Giants. Nate Bump,rhp, Penn St.

26. Orioles. Rick Elder, of-1b, HS, Ga.

27. Marlins. Chip Ambres, of, HS, Texas

28. Rockies. Matt Roney, rhp, HS, Okla.

29. Giants. Arturo McDowell, of, HS, Miss.

30. Royals. Matt Burch, rhp, Va. Commonwealth

OTHER NOTABLES

31. Royals. Chris George, lhp, HS, Tex.

32. Cardinals. +Ben Diggins,1b-rhp, HS--Dewey, Ariz.

33. Expos. Brad Wilkerson, Florida

34. Tigers. Nate Cornejo, rhp, HS, Kan..

35. White Sox. Aaron Rowand, of, Cal State Fullerton

36. Rockies. Choo Freeman, of, HS--Mesquite Texas

37. Astros. Michael Nannini, rhp, HS--Henderson, Nev.

38. Giants. Chris Jones, lhp, HS--Charlotte, N.C.

39. Orioles. Mamon Tucker, of, HS--Austin, Texas

40. Rockies. Jeff Winchester, c, HS--Metairie, La.

41. Giants. Jeff Urban, lhp, Ball State U.

42. Phillies. Eric Valent, of, UCLA

43. Yankees. +Mark Prior, rhp, HS, Calif.

48. Cardinals. Chad Hutchinson, rhp, Stanford

49. Twins. Marcus Sents, rhp, HS--Cookeville, Tenn.

50. Reds. Adam Dunn, of, HS-New Caney, Texas

+Did not sign.