By Jack Magruder
November 7, 2001

Austin Kearns Photo: Michael Walby

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--Grand Canyon outfielder Austin Kearns truly is just happy to be here, even if that feeling is not mutual among the pitchers in the Arizona Fall League.

Kearns, who had one of the most prodigious power streaks in the minor leagues in 2000, missed more than half of the 2001 season after suffering a torn ligament in his thumb while diving for a fly ball in a May game for Double-A Chattanooga.

"I put my hand down while I was diving, and it just ripped my thumb back," said Kearns, taken by the Reds with the seventh overall pick in the 1998 draft. "I needed some more time this year. I'm just glad to get some at-bats."

Kearns is making up for that lost time. After hitting only six homers in 59 games Chattanooga, Kearns has hit four in 28 games while going .357-4-27 for the Rafters.

He hit two homers on the second day of the AFL season and has kept his average up all season while maintaining plate discipline.

Kearns had three of his eight doubles in an Oct. 25 game against Peoria and ranked third in the league in RBIs, hits and on-base percentage through the first weekend in November. He had drawn 17 walks.

"I'm just trying to make up for the time I missed, and go out and be successful," said Kearns, 21.

The down time in the regular season was frustrating, Kearns admitted, especially after his successful progression through the lower minors, beginning at Rookie-level Billings in 1998.

"It was tough," he said, "sitting at home, doing therapy."

Kearns said he and a friend went to Hilton Head, S.C., for a week, but other than that he spent the time "keeping up with what the team did and playing a whole lot of PlayStation."

Kearns had 27 homers and 37 doubles for Class A Dayton in 2000, and he homered in 11 of 12 games that July, including a Midwest League-record 10 straight games.

"I don't try to hit home runs" said Kearns, 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. "Usually, that's when I get myself in trouble at the plate, because I try to do too much. I'm just trying to make good contact and use the whole field."

Kearns roomed with Adam Dunn--a second-round pick in 1998 who made the jump to the Reds last season--in their first three seasons in the minors.

"I'm happy for him," Kearns said. "My goal is to get to the big leagues and stay there."