Adam Dunn invited to Academy Awards for role behind 'Dallas Buyers Club': Report

No one will ever confuse Adam Dunn with George Clooney as a box office attraction, but when comes to producing hits outside the batter's box, the White Sox slugger is suddenly in the same class as the film star.

The White Sox designated hitter has an invite to Sunday’s Academy Awards, a reward for his role in the production company behind “Dallas Buyers Club,” the film that scored a Best Actor nomination for Matthew McConaughey.

“Realistically, how many times do you get to do something like this,” Dunn asked. “I got to do some pretty cool stuff in my life, but this would be one of them.”

The 6-foot-6, 285 pound Dunn told the CSNChicago.com that the one thing that’s giving him pause about attending the Oscars is that with only 27 days left in spring training after Sunday’s awards show in Los Angeles, he’s not sure if he wants to take a day off.

“I don’t even think it’s a big deal,” he said of using his one allotted day off. “If it’s remotely an issue at all then it’s not worth it to me.”

In addition to being an investor in Texas-based Truth Entertainment (started by his friend, ex-Blue Jays minor leaguer Joe Newcomb), Dunn also played a bit role in the Best Picture-nominated film — which led to a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Jared Leto and another for Best Original Screenplay, among other categories. Dunn played bartender Neddie Jay in the movie.

Dunn — whose baseball career is similar to most Hollywood players — plenty of home runs (440) but with a fair share of strikeouts (2,220), too — was still undecided Monday about whether he would attend the red carpet extravaganza, although he already had the backing of his manager.

“How many people get a chance to do that and actually be a part of it, not just go just to go, but be a part of something that has a chance to do something special,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura told CSNChicago. “Even the next day, I’d rather have him not worry about the next day and have him catch up after that … I’m not worried about precedence either because the next time somebody has something to do with the Oscars, we’ll deal with it.”