Adam Dunn's two home runs Sunday give him three in his last two games. (Al Behrman/AP)

CINCINNATI -- The Reds' future literally looms over them at Cinergy Field, where Great American Ball Park, the new stadium they will inhabit beginning next year, undergoes construction beyond the outfield barrier.

The Reds' future is also unfolding before them in an equally tangible way on the field. Austin Kearns, whose Major League career is all of 10 games old, already has displayed his considerable promise as a hitter. Kearns' excellence mirrors last year's remarkable ascent of fellow outfielder Adam Dunn, whose prodigious power excited all of baseball as he rose from Double-A to the Majors.

The Reds' blueprint calls for Dunn and Kearns to help lead the team back to prominence by flanking center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. in the outfield. But that wasn't supposed to happen for at least another year. Though Griffey's on the disabled list with a partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee, the Reds relish what awaits them -- and what they're seeing now.

Austin Kearns   /   RF
	Height: 6'3" Weight: 220 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Hit chart Reds site

Kearns extended his streak of reaching base safely to eight consecutive plate appearances Sunday, singling in the second and fourth innings. The latter hit drove in the Reds' first run in their 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants. He flew out deep to left field in the sixth inning on a ball that appeared to be blown back by the swirling winds that gusted up to 32 mph.

"I guess the baseball gods said, you're getting too many hits right now -- you need to slow down," Dunn joked. In Kearns' final at-bat, he sustained Cincinnati's eighth-inning rally by drawing a walk on a 3-2 pitch from Felix Rodriguez.

Kearns, who has hit safely in all but two games he has played, lifted his average to .400, to go along with two homers and six RBIs.

"He gives you outstanding at-bats," Reds manager Bob Boone said of Kearns, 21. "He doesn't chase bad pitches. He has power. He looks like he's going to be special."

Adam Dunn   /   OF
	Height: 6'6" Weight: 240 Bats/Throws: L/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Hit chart Reds site

After a slow start, Dunn has recaptured his awe-inspiring swing. He's hitting .352 (19-for-54) since starting the season 2-for-20. His .284 overall average is more than respectable, considering he didn't clear .200 for good until the season's 13th game. He recorded his first multiple-homer game as a Major Leaguer on Sunday, giving him three roundtrippers in two games.

"I don't know if I've been feeling that much better, but I'm getting some good pitches and I'm doing something with them instead of fouling them back," Dunn said.

Said Boone, "He's been getting much better positioning with his swing. Much better balance. He hasn't really been struggling. He just wasn't tearing it up."

Dunn, 22, heard all the raves about him last year as he amassed 54 homers and 131 RBIs combined with the Reds and in the minors. Now, he's leading the cheers for Kearns, his friend and teammate since they turned professional in 1998.

"I've said it a thousand times -- the guy's unbelievable," Dunn said. "Nothing he does surprises me. He's one of those players like (Jose) Rijo. He can do whatever (he wants). He doesn't get rattled. He knows how to hit. He plays good defense. He's just good."

Kearns, a low-keyed sort, down played his instant success.

"I didn't set any goals or anything," he said. "I just try to take the same approach every day."

Kearns' patience enhances his approach. He already has six walks. Like Dunn, who has drawn 100 walks in each of the previous two seasons, Kearns rarely swings wildly at pitches out of the strike zone.

"Sometimes when you're scuffling, you feel like you're swinging at everything," Kearns said. "Other times, you're laying off stuff that's a couple of inches off the plate. So it's up and down."

Kearns' poker face cracked ever so slightly when his sixth-inning drive landed in Barry Bonds' glove. Kearns' blast seemed to have the same impetus as the homers hit by San Francisco's Reggie Sanders and Benito Santiago, but it lacked their carry.

"There were some funny wind currents. We were arguing about it all day," Boone said. "Timmy (third-base coach Tim Foli) kept saying, 'Look at the top flag, it's blowing out.' I said, 'No, it's not. Look at the other flag.'"

"When I hit it, I knew I hit it well enough for it to go out on a regular day," Kearns said. "I don't know whether I hit it with too much backspin. I think it just hung up. I was kind of disappointed, but ..."

Ken Griffey Jr.   /   CF
	Height: 6'3" Weight: 205 Bats/Throws: L/L More info: Player page Stats Splits Hit chart Reds site

Some Reds fans might be disappointed to see Kearns return to the minors. That's likely to occur when Griffey is activated from the disabled list, perhaps within another two weeks. Juan Encarnacion, now in center, will return to right field, while Dunn will stay in left. Boone and general manager Jim Bowden have insisted that Kearns receive 500 at-bats this year to deepen his experience.

"Obviously," said Kearns, "I can help them with their decision or make it harder."

He's definitely giving Reds management something to contemplate.

Chris Haft covers the Reds for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.