Reds slugger Adam Dunn was built for baseball's modern era

There are some players who are ahead of their time. Guys who have unique skill sets that are not properly appreciated in the moment, but in hindsight were trailblazers deserving of more respect. The way the game has evolved, these figures from the past would be much more highly regarded if they played today. One such player is former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn.

Years after Dunn's career came to a close, folks still debate whether he was overrated or underrated. There are two big things that Dunn is remembered for: blasting homers and a mind-melting clip, and striking out with even greater frequency. Beginning his career in 2001, it was rare to hear the former Reds slugger described as a superstar. Today, that might be a foregone conclusion.

Think about it this way: who holds the single-season strikeout record? Up until recently, it was Mark Reynolds with 223 in 2009. Dunn was the runner-up for much of that time, whiffing 222 times in 2012. But now Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery has taken the top spot with 225.

Montgomery is believed to be one of the games brightest young stars. A former top prospect, the 24-year-old is thought of as a potential superstar. The strikeouts aren't viewed as a huge issue, instead, they're looked at as a byproduct of a brutal second-half slump he suffered through. Still, his future is bright.

Contrast that to Dunn, who was largely considered a limited player, a one-trick pony, if you will, and it becomes clear what a difference an era makes.

Former Reds slugger Adam Dunn deserves more respect in light of how the game has progressed

These days, folks salivate over Kyle Schwarber. They should; the Middletown, Ohio, native is an impressive mix of power and patience. There are even some who believe he'll one day end up in the Hall of Fame.

See, the same skill set that made Dunn a limited player has made Schwarber the embodiment of the latest and greatest trend: the three true outcomes. The thing that some gloss over is that while Dunn struck out a lot, he also walked a ton.

In five of the six seasons that Big Donkey spent in Cincinnati, he walked over 100 times. The one year he didn't, 2003, he was limited to just 116 games due to a thumb injury. Don't underestimate the value of those free passes.

Here's another tidbit worth noting. For as prolific as Dunn's strikeouts were, he only topped the 200 threshold once. Schwarber has exceeded it three times, all coming within the last five years, with this season's 219 total representing a career high. His buzz only grows, though.

Another key knock on Dunn was that he was a horrendous defender in the outfield. For much of his Reds career, the team had no choice but to live with his defensive deficiency. It was the only way to get his potent bat into the lineup every day. Now, the DH has come to the NL, and a player like Schwarber, also a train wreck with the glove, avoids the same sort of criticism.

Dunn hit .247/.380/.520 during his career in a Reds uniform. That cool .900 OPS is a borderline MVP performance, and it's something that the big man maintained for the better part of eight years. Dunn hit 40 or more homers five straight years, and followed that up with two more 38-homer campaigns. In total, Dunn blasted 462 long balls during his illustrious career.

Had Dunn been able to hang on a bit longer and clear the 500 mark, maybe his career would be viewed differently. If he played 15 years later, he'd have been considered the prototype for what a modern slugger should be. At the end of the day, players like Colson Montgomery and Kyle Schwarber prove one thing: Adam Dunn deserves more respect.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow