Reds spring training watch list grows after quiet endorsement from Nick Krall

Perhaps the third time’s the charm for Blake Dunn. The speedy outfielder has struggled to make any headway in his first two tastes of the big leagues, but Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall seems to think this year will be different.

In an interview with Reds Hot Stove League, Krall pointed to Dunn’s strong second half in Triple-A as a reason to watch the young outfielder as a dark-horse candidate to make the cut out of spring training.

In the final three months of the 2025 season, Dunn hit .358/.458/.486. Imagine if just a fraction of that ability played out in the majors. Unfortunately, Dunn, who made the Opening Day roster in 2025, has .151/.298/.256 in 49 games over two seasons with the Reds.

It’s a boom or bust year for Reds outfielder Blake Dunn

Dunn might not be the player to hit 23 homers and stole 54 bases between High-A and Double-A in 2023, but a strong spring may seal his fate as either a contributor or an expendable player taking up a 40-man roster spot.

Dunn’s job has gotten harder since last season following the Reds’ acquisitions of Eugenio Suárez, JJ Bleday, and Dane Myers. Suárez, Sal Stewart, and Ke’Bryan Hayes will be rotating through duties at the corner infielder positions and DH. (Obviously Hayes will solely play third, but Suárez and Stewart may also get time there and at first.) This likely pushes Spencer Steer back into a utility role with considerable time in the outfield.

Bleday’s lefty swing will play well at Great American Ball Park, and Myers is a glove-first, speedy centerfielder who could be a true backup for the injury-prone TJ Friedl. That doesn’t leave much room for Dunn. He’ll also have to fend off Will Benson, Rece Hinds, and eventually Héctor Rodríguez.

Spring training, then, might be Dunn’s audition not just for the Reds, but for other franchises seeking a fifth outfielder. Krall’s praise of Dunn paled in comparison to the “monster” tag he placed on Hinds. It’s obvious that Cincinnati brass will be giving Dunn a fair look, but there may be other clubs keeping their eyes on him, too.