Minor-ity Report: Highlight on Joe Dunigan

June 14, 2009

Raise your hand if you’ve heard of Joe Dunigan.  Now look left and right.  If you were raising your hand, chances are you are either alone in that regard, or are a close friend or distant relative of the Dunigan family.  While it is requisite for The Report to cover blue chip prospects and known talent, we relish in offering up more than the occasional rare gems, as well. 

So for those who don’t know, Dunigan is a former 5th round (165th overall) draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2007 amateur entry draft.  Joe Dunigan stands in at a sturdy 6′1 and 215lbs.  Fast for his frame, Dunigan can flat out hit.  His 2008 performance in the Midwest League tells the story of an unremarkable outfielder/first baseman who can field both positions but is not particularly pretty at either.  His 14 homers and 28 steals in ‘08 didn’t grab scouts’ attention, nor did his 30 BB: 142 K ratio.  But there is apparently more to the offensively middling and defensively homeless Dunigan than met the eye in ‘08 – as evidenced by his performance thus far in 2009.

In just under 200 at-bats so far in ‘09 all Dunigan has done is knock 14 homers (equally his 2008 season total) and stolen 11 bags, while batting a tidy .349.  More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Joe-Dun has matured into one of the more patient batters in the California League, walking 26 times while whiffing 44, a sizeable improvement upon his 30:142 total from the prior season.  His 18 two-baggers, .400+ OBP, and 1.100+ OPS  tell the tale of a batter with developing power and improving approach, all of which will only add to his intrigue if Dunigan can end as strong as he has begun.

In fact, if Joe-Dun can end strong, he may yet earn a promotion to double A (and get a look at the Bigs as early as late-2010).  Seattle’s outfield, which features now-fossilized Ken Griffey, Jr., seemingly-ageless Ichiro, former uber-prospect Wladamir Balentien, and defensive whiz yet offensively anemic Franklin Gutierrez, would certainly benefit from a young, energized, maturing prospect bat. If not slotted into the outfield, maybe Dunigan would fit in at first base, where Russ Branyan is presently outperforming any and all expectations.  Perhaps it is too hearly to speculate as to whether Dunigan will be that catalyzing offensive presence Seattle clearly craves, but having potentially turned a corner in his game, Dunigan certainly appears worth watching.

So while you won’t find Joe Dunigan on any top 10 lists, and you won’t hear his name whispered around keeper league drafts/auctions yet – you may entering the 2010 season..but you heard it HERE first!  Savvy Fantasy GM’s will take notice of Joe Dunigan.

Written by Russell Sandman · Filed Under Minor Leagues | Leave a Comment