Mike Dunn

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2011
  Dunn has been traded twice in the last two years. First, he went to the Braves with Melky Cabrera and Arodys Vizcaino in a December 2009 deal that sent Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan to the Yankees. Eleven months later, Atlanta paired him with Omar Infante to get Dan Uggla from the Marlins. Dunn spent most of 2010 in Triple-A before pitching well down the stretch with the Braves and earning a spot on their postseason roster. He's very athletic for a pitcher, not surprising because he spent his first pro season and part of his second as an outfielder in the Yankees system. He became a full-time reliever in 2009 and has produced consistent 91-94 mph heat ever since, peaking at 97. The depth of his hard slider became more consistent last year, giving him a solid second pitch. Dunn's biggest challenge comes in maintaining a consistent delivery and release point. While his athleticism allows him to make corrections, his command deserts him when he gets out of sync. The Marlins always have job openings, and Dunn should fill one as a lefty in their big league bullpen this year.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #12 prospect in 2010
  Dunn finished last season in the major leagues, quite an accomplishment for the former two-way player at CC of Southern Nevada. He converted to the mound full-time in 2006 after batting .160/.269/.230 in 66 games as an outfielder. He quickly established himself as a power arm, and his strong 2009 season--his first as a full-time reliever--made the Yankees comfortable enough to include Phil Coke in the Curtis Granderson trade. Dunn has a better raw arm than Coke, sitting at 90-94 mph and touching 98 with his fastball. Along with his heater, his slider also gained velocity when he moved to the bullpen, and he now throws it in the mid-80s. It's usually an average pitch but is a plus offering when he gets good depth on it. While he's aggressive and attacks hitters, Dunn can get inconsistent with his delivery and release point, putting him into hitter's counts as he struggles to throw strikes. The Yankees say he's athletic enough to have serviceable control, which should be enough with his stuff. Like Coke, Dunn figures to carry the load as a cheap, durable reliever, though he won't often be counted on for late-game outs. He'll get the opportunity to earn a big league bullpen spot in 2010.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #16 prospect in 2009
  The Yankees' continuing search for homegrown lefthanders has led them to Phil Coke and Jeremy Bleich, while two of their stronger-armed lefties, converted outfielders Dunn and Wilkins de la Rossa, have moved to the bullpen. Dunn is further along and has shown more fastball velocity than De La Rossa, moving him onto the 40-man roster and close to a big league shot. Dunn finished the 2008 season on the upswing, turning in his best month in August and pitching well in the Eastern League playoffs. A two-way player at the CC of Southern Nevada, he moved full-time to the mound in 2006 and to the bullpen at the end of 2008 after nearing his innings limit as a starter. Dunn, who sat at 88-92 mph with his fastball as a starter, jumped to 94-96 in short relief bursts. He also pitched more aggressively, finishing hitters off with his heater or low- to mid-80s slider. While his slider doesn't have two-plane break, it was effective as a power breaking ball. Dunn still fights his command and will have to throw more strikes, particularly on the inner half to righthanders, to be more than a middle reliever. He figures to return to Double-A to start 2009.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #25 prospect in 2008
  Dunn was a two-way player in junior college, and the Yankees knew he had ability to do both when they signed him away from Texas A&M as a draft-and-follow in 2005. When he hit .160 over parts of two seasons as an outfielder, they put him on the mound in mid-2006. A year later, he has emerged as their top lefthanded pitching prospect. Granted, it's an uninspiring lot that includes Chase Wright, a No. 5 starter at best; hard-throwing Angel Reyes, who disappointed New York with his poor command and lack of toughness last season; and sleeper Edgar Soto, a relief candidate with big stuff but poor command. Dunn relies--perhaps too much--on his plus slider, which he throws with low-80s velocity and pretty good depth. He's athletic and repeats his delivery well, giving him solid control of his 88-92 mph fastball, which touches 94. Befitting a converted position player, he's still working to deepen his repertoire, toying with a cutter and a changeup. The changeup works when he finishes off the pitch, uses all his fingers and keeps it low and slow, the way pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras wants it. Dunn will try to do all that and remain a starter as part of the high Class A rotation this year.