The White Sox have signed right-hander Justin Dunn to a minor league deal, per the workforce. The CAA shopper will probably be in spring coaching as a non-roster invitee.
Now 29 years previous, Dunn was a first-round decide by the Mets in 2016. He ranked among the many group’s prime prospect when he was traded to Seattle alongside Jarred Kelenic within the Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz blockbuster. The M’s gave Dunn a glance in elements of three seasons and obtained first rate outcomes alongside the best way, although Dunn additionally battled a number of shoulder accidents in his Mariners tenure. Ultimately, he was packaged with Brandon Williamson and Jake Fraley in the commerce bringing Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to Seattle.
With the Reds, Dunn solely pitched a complete of 65 2/3 innings between the minors and massive leagues mixed. His shoulder was ailing on the time of the commerce, however Cincinnati made the swap anyhow. Dunn’s first season in Cincinnati was delayed by that shoulder; the workforce introduced late in spring coaching that Dunn would miss “months” with a shoulder difficulty. He wound up pitching 31 innings within the minors and one other 31 within the majors that yr, logging an equivalent 6.10 ERA in each settings. Dunn’s 2023 season was once more delayed by shoulder woes, and he ultimately underwent surgical procedure to restore the anterior shoulder in his proper capsule late in 2023. He hasn’t pitched since.
Only a couple weeks in the past, Dunn’s camp hosted a showcase for large league golf equipment. It was at all times unlikely that he’d land a assured roster spot after such a prolonged layoff, however Dunn will head to a White Sox group that ought to have ample alternative for him subsequent season. He’ll convey a profession 4.44 ERA, 19.3% strikeout price and ugly 14.7% stroll price in 133 2/3 innings to Chicago. When wholesome, Dunn has averaged 93.7 mph on his heater and paired that providing with an 84 mph slider and 80 mph curveball.
Due to on a regular basis Dunn has spent on a significant league injured listing, he has 4 full seasons of service time already. If he makes the White Sox’ roster at any level, he’d get to 5 years with one other 152 days within the majors. On the very least, Dunn has a full slate of minor league choices and two seasons of membership management remaining. If he’s introduced up midseason when there are fewer than 152 days on the calendar, he’d technically be controllable one other three years, at minimal. All of that’s placing the proverbial cart earlier than the horse, nonetheless. At first, Dunn might want to present that his shoulder damage is behind him and make some strides together with his longstanding command points. There’s loads of former prospect pedigree, however it’s been near a decade since Dunn was a first-rounder and about 5 years since he was final thought-about a prime prospect.
