Dean Dunning, a key member of Korea’s national baseball team for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, endured a tough outing in Triple-A action. The right-hander, pitching for the Tacoma Rainiers against the Oklahoma City Comets, faltered after surrendering six runs over four innings.
Struggles Mount Early
Dunning took the mound as the starter on April 23 (Korea time) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. He allowed three hits, including one home run, five walks, five hit batters, one strikeout, and six runs total, with four earned.
His command issues were evident from the start. In the first inning, Dunning struck out a batter and induced a double play to escape unscathed. The second proved costly, as consecutive pitches to James Tips and Jack Suwinski resulted in walks, followed by hit batters to Austin Gotti and Noah Miller, forcing in runs and marking his first earned run.
Inning-by-Inning Breakdown
- Third Inning: With Tacoma leading 1-0, Dunning issued a two-out walk to Michael Siani before a pitch to Ernie Clement went wild, allowing a sacrifice fly. However, the pitcher escaped further damage.
- Fourth Inning: Johnny Pereda’s home run made it 2-4, followed by Gotti’s RBI double, Miller’s three-run homer, and Siani’s RBI single. Dunning hit Clement with a pitch, walked Troy Taylor, and induced a score-tied double play.
- Fifth Inning: More free passes to Clement and Taylor loaded the bases, leading to his exit after a difficult night.
Prior to this start, Dunning impressed on April 17 against the Sacramento River Cats, tossing six innings of one-run ball with two home runs allowed but strong overall performance. This latest appearance pushed his ERA to 6.00.
Rare WBC Selection
Dunning earned a spot on Korea’s 2026 WBC roster as the eighth pitcher selected in 17 years, marking a significant achievement. The dual-citizen hurler debuted professionally with the Chicago White Sox in 2020 before transitioning to a full-time reliever role last season with the Brewers’ affiliate.
Now aiming for a Major League breakthrough, Dunning continues to refine his craft in Triple-A while preparing for international competition.
