3 Reds prospects who improved their stock immeasurably in 2023

2. Reds prospect Blake Dunn improved his stock immeasurably in 2023

With a strong showing in spring training, Blake Dunn could sneak his way onto the Cincinnati Reds 2024 Opening Day roster. The former 15th-round draft pick was finally healthy in 2023 after back-to-back injury-plagued campaigns.

The Reds stole Dunn during the 2021 MLB Draft. The skilled outfielder had all the tools teams were looking for coming out of Western Michigan but somehow fell to the Reds at pick No. 450 after suffering a hamate injury during his senior season with the Broncos.

While injuries have slowed Dunn's progression, the right-handed hitting outfielder was healthy this past season and showcased his skills across two different levels of the minor leagues.

Dunn combined to post a slash line of .312/.425/.522 while splitting time between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattatnooga. Dunn also blasted 23 round-trippers, racked up 79 ribbies, and swiped 54 bags. The 25-year-old was also able to find time at all three outfield spots.

Blake Dunn is on the verge of making it to The Show. It's very likely, with the outfield depth the Cincinnati Reds currently have, that Dunn will begin next season in Triple-A. But as Reds fans saw with Matt McLain last season, if Dunn explodes out of the gate while playing in the Derby City, it'll be just matter of time before he makes the jump to the major leagues.