Saugatuck’s Blake Dunn is headed back to the majors.
The Cincinnati Reds called the outfielder up to the big club on Sunday, May 3.
“I think I’ve just continued to build off last year and Spring Training,” Dunn told MLB.com. “Just trying to stay in the moment pitch-to-pitch, game-to-game and all that stuff. Just going out there, being confident and having fun and just trying to find any way possible to help the team win.”
For the first time since 1959, the Holland area will have two major leaguers at once. In 1959, Holland native George Zuverink played his last of eight seasons in the majors, while Zeeland native and future Hall of Famer Jim Kaat made his major league debut for the Washington Senators that season.
Dunn started 2025 in the majors with the Reds, then after he was sent to Louisville, Hamilton graduate Grant Wolfram was called up by the Baltimore Orioles. Wolfram (1-1) started the year with the Orioles and has pitched well out of the bullpen and both are in the show at the same time.
Dunn has played 29 games in Louisville this year and hit .277. After starting 2025 with the Reds, he was sent to Louisville after a tough start. In 98 games in Louisville, in both seasons combined, he is hitting .291 with a .798 OPS.
Outfielder Rece Hinds was optioned to Triple-A Louisville, where Dunn started the year.
“When we got Rece here, we kind of wanted him to have a little bit of runway to play. And then we stopped playing him, then all of a sudden we’re like, ‘OK he’s sitting,’ and that’s probably not what nee needs,” Reds manager Terry Francona told MLB.com on Sunday. “So Dunner can play all three (outfield spots), probably a little better defender. Plus, he’s been playing and not been sitting, so I think he’s got a chance to be a guy that’s sharper.”
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Blake Dunn called up to Reds, 2 Holland-area players in majors f
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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