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

Adam Dunn, who played for the Cincinnati Reds starting in 2001, was known for hitting home runs at a high rate while also striking out frequently, a combination that made him underappreciated during his career. The article argues that Dunn's skill set—high strikeouts paired with numerous walks and power—would be viewed much more favorably in today's game, where players like Kyle Schwarber are celebrated for the same three true outcomes approach. Dunn struck out 222 times in 2012, which was the second-most in a season until recently, and walked over 100 times in five of his six seasons with Cincinnati. The addition of the designated hitter to the National League has also eliminated the defensive liability issue that once hurt Dunn's reputation, allowing modern players with similar offensive profiles to avoid the same criticism.

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