For the first time since 1959, the Holland area is celebrating two major leaguers on the same field—and it's a moment worth cheering about. The Cincinnati Reds called up outfielder Blake Dunn from Saugatuck on Sunday, May 3, bringing him back to the big club after a stint in Triple-A Louisville. This promotion means Dunn joins Hamilton graduate Grant Wolfram, a left-handed reliever for the Baltimore Orioles, giving the region a rare double dose of baseball pride.
"I think I've just continued to build off last year and Spring Training," Dunn told MLB.com. "Just trying to stay in the moment pitch-to-pitch, game-to-game. Just going out there, being confident and having fun and trying to find any way possible to help the team win."
This is a historic reunion for the area. Back in 1959, Holland native George Zuverink played his final season in the majors while Zeeland native and future Hall of Famer Jim Kaat debuted for the Washington Senators. Now, more than six decades later, Dunn and Wolfram are writing their own chapter.
Dunn started 2025 with the Reds but was sent down after a tough opening stretch. In 29 games with Louisville this season, he hit .277, and over 98 games in the minors across two years, he's posted a solid .291 average with a .798 OPS. The Reds optioned outfielder Rece Hinds to make room for Dunn, with manager Terry Francona explaining the move: "When we got Rece here, we kind of wanted him to have a little bit of runway to play. ... Dunner can play all three outfield spots, probably a little better defender. Plus, he's been playing and not sitting, so I think he's got a chance to be a guy that's sharper."
On the other side, Wolfram has been turning heads in Baltimore. He started the year with the Orioles and has posted a 1-1 record out of the bullpen, showing strong command and poise. For fans of Holland-area baseball, this is a season to watch—two local stars making their mark in the big leagues at the same time.
