Reds may have finally found perfect fit for overlooked roster role

The Cincinnati Reds optioned Rece Hinds back to the minor leagues over the weekend and in the process recalled outfielder Blake Dunn to rejoin the active roster. While Dunn has nowhere near the offensive ceiling that Hinds possesses, that's not exactly what the Reds need at the moment.

Dunn fits a role — one that the Reds have needed to fill ever since Eugenio Suárez landed on the injured list with a strained oblique. Cincinnati had been using Nathaniel Lowe as the team's 26th-man, but with Suárez on the IL, the former Silver Slugger has been thrust into a starting role. With Dunn now on the roster, he gives manager Terry Francona the perfect role player.

Blake Dunn fills a need on the Reds roster

One of the biggest reasons Francona and the Reds coaching staff decided to add Lowe to the Opening Day roster was his ability to accept a lesser role on the team. Francona was very matter of fact about the situation and called it a "bench role" back in March.

“It was the role. It’s a bench role. We really want (JJ) Bleday and (Rece) Hinds to play...We talked to Lowe about the role. I think that’s the reason. I told Hinds, he couldn’t have done more. The role is a bench spot, and we want you to play," Francona told Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith.

Lowe has proven to be more than just a role player through the first month-plus of the 2026 season. He hitting .274/.348/.597 with five home runs and 155 OPS+. Until Geno returns from the IL, Reds fans should expect to see Lowe as the team's starting DH most nights.

But that bench role needs to be backfilled, and Dunn is the man for the job. He gives Francona right-handed platoon bat who can fill in for either Bleday or Benson against left-handed pitching. Last season in the minors, he hit .328/.420/.496 against southpaws.

Dunn is also a burner on the base paths and an above-average defender in the outfield. He showcased that blazing-fast speed on Monday night against the Chicago Cubs when he scored the go-ahead run during the top of the eighth inning. His presence in the dugout now gives Francona a pinch-runner for late-game situations and/ or a defensive replacement in the outfield.

As Francona said during the spring, the Reds see the need for both Bleday and Hinds to receive regular playing time. Hinds wasn't getting the job done in the big leagues, and much like Noelvi Marte, was sent back to the minors to figure things out. Dunn should have no issue adjusting to his new role, and could surprise a number of fans if given the opportunity.

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