Even though the Texas League no longer plays an all-star game, it takes a break in conjunction with Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week. This week’s four days without games is a chance for players to reset and recharge.
There’s a pretty good chance Nick Dunn would have preferred to continue playing without interruption. The Springfield Cardinals’ second baseman has been swinging the bat better than anyone in the Texas League and hitting the ball better than any time during his career.
“I’ve been feeling good at the plate,” Dunn said during the team’s last homestand. “I’m glad to see my work paying off a little bit.”
Earning Cardinals' minor-league player of the month honors
After being named the Cardinals’ minor-league player of the month for June, Dunn has continued to rip in July. He has been named Texas League Player of the Week for July 3-9, with a .545 batting average (12-for-22), three home runs, seven RBIs, four walks and six runs in six games.
Those are basically slow-pitch softball-type numbers for the 26-year-old, who hit two-run home runs on back-to-back days over the weekend against the Amarillo Sod Poodles.
The fifth-round draft selection in 2018 out of the University of Maryland hit .372 in June, including a .450 on-base percentage. The surge has boosted his season average to .327, as he’s hit .358 in 59 games since April 26, the highest average in the Texas League during that stretch.
For someone with a .258 career batting average through his first four minor-league seasons, Dunn could be a late-bloomer who’s earning his keep through hard work and maturity.
“It’s an honor,” Dunn said after being named the Cardinals’ minor-league player of the month. “It’s a lot of hard work. Everybody puts in a lot of hard work here. Going through ups and downs the last few years and trying to figure things out, developing a process and routine, the recognition is really nice.”
Maturing as a player, shaking off slow start
Dunn has become almost as much a part of the Springfield Cardinals as Louie the team mascot. His 277 games in a Springfield uniform over the last three seasons are more than anyone on the roster.
“For me, it’s just becoming more mature as a player,” Dunn said. “Having a little time here helps. It’s easier to be comfortable and kind of settle in quicker. I had a little bit of a slow start, but we have a good squad here and that helps, too.”
Dunn was able to use that maturity to shake off a slow start in 2023, as he hit only .259 in April with no home runs. He’s been on a tear since, even seeing an uptick in his power production, with his seven home runs in 70 games matching the total he hit for all of the 2022 season.
Manager Jose Leger said Dunn began to turn a corner midway through last season with his ability to make hard contact on a more consistent basis.
“He puts the barrel on the ball and … has been really good using the whole field, attacking the fastball and getting good pitches to hit,” Leger said.
Striking out less, walking more
Dunn has always shown outstanding discipline at the plate. He struck out only 67 times while drawing 85 walks in 684 career at-bats at Maryland, where he started 172 games in three seasons. That didn’t immediately translate to pro ball, as he struck out more than he walked until 2022, when he flipped that to 63 walks and 42 strikeouts.
This season, Dunn has 41 walks and 29 strikeouts while being able to swing with more aggression, thus the increase in his power. His .480 slugging percentage is easily a career-best.
“That’s something that I worked on a lot the last couple of years, in ’21 and ’22, just being able to kind of even out and then flip the walk-to-strikeout ratio,” Dunn said. “That’s a big part of plate discipline and is something that has always been one of my tools.
“The last couple of years, it’s been about trying to figure out how to use that to my advantage. Kind of sticking with that and working on it during the offseason, and taking it into this year has been a big help for me.”
The clock is ticking for Dunn
But there’s a nagging question for players Dunn’s age. At 26, he’s one of the oldest players in the Texas League and knows that he needs to advance soon, either to Triple-A or hopefully the major leagues. His time as a prospect is ticking.
Dunn said there’s nothing he can do except keep hitting line drives and hope the organization’s decision-makers notice.
“There’s a lot of things in baseball that you don’t really have control over and that are out of your hands,” Dunn said. “All you can do is focus on constantly trying to get better, constantly making improvements and focus on being the best player you can be where you’re at, right now.
“Regardless how long you’re somewhere, you’re focusing every day on how can I get better, how can I improve?”
There’s also an old adage in the minor leagues that you’re always auditioning for not only your organization, but also the 29 others. The MLB trade deadline is July 31 and every year, minor leaguers are included in deals as teams look to upgrade at the big-league level.
“Regardless of where you’re at or what level, there are other teams always watching,” Dunn said. “Like I said, a lot of that’s out of your hands. All you can do is show up and be prepared to play and play your best every day.”
The Cardinals return to Texas League action on Friday, beginning a three-game series at Wichita. Springfield is home at Hammons Field on Tuesday for the start of a six-game series against the Arkansas Travelers.
Next Cardinals homestand
Tuesday, July 18 — 6:35 p.m. vs. Arkansas Travelers, $2 Tuesday
Wednesday, July 19 — 6:35 p.m. vs. Arkansas Travelers, Woof Wednesday
Thursday, July 20 — 7:05 p.m. vs. Arkansas Travelers, Thirsty Thursday
Friday, July 21 — 7:05 p.m. vs. Arkansas Travelers, Friday Night Fireworks
Saturday, July 22 — 6:35 p.m. vs. Arkansas Travelers, Elf Bobblehead Giveaway
Sunday, July 23 — 6:05 p.m. vs. Arkansas Travelers, Ice Cream Sunday
Tickets — Visit the Springfield Cardinals website or go to the Hammons Field box office
