When the Cincinnati Reds traded Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners before the season, pitcher Justin Dunn was one of the players heading to Ohio.
Dunn, who just turned 27, was seen as a big piece of the Reds’ future.
Shoulder issues – inflammation on his pitching shoulder, to be more specific – robbed him most of the first half, though.
When he returned, he was placed on the injured list with an illness, and then again with shoulder issues.
It’s safe to say injuries, his shoulder to be exact, have stalled his development and his season with Cincinnati.
On His Way Back
He is, however, on the path back to the Reds’ rotation.
“Justin Dunn is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville tomorrow (50-55 pitches). He’s eligible to return from the 15-day IL on Friday,” the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Bobby Nightengale reported.
Justin Dunn is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville tomorrow (50-55 pitches). He's eligible to return from the 15-day IL on Friday.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) September 26, 2022
He won’t be rejoining the Reds rotation on Friday if he is going to pitch between 50 and 55 pitches on Tuesday, but he could take the ball early next week for one of the games in the last series of the season.
For the Reds, and especially for Dunn, finishing the year as a member of the rotation would be huge.
There is a ton of talent on his right arm, but injuries and some problems with his control (he has handed out 5.79 walks per nine innings over the course of his young career) have gotten in the way.
As the Reds try to become competitive again at some point in 2023 or 2024, having Dunn healthy and contributing is very important.
He won’t be an ace, but he may have a future as a number four pitcher in a rotation.
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