Dunn Working Hard Defensively At 1B

MLB.com - Normally an outfielder, Adam Dunn started 2009 as Washington's regular left fielder, but struggled and was later switched to first base after the team traded Nick Johnson to the Marlins on July 31.

While he caught balls thrown to him and scooped balls in the dirt, Dunn had serious problems going to his sides on ground balls and catching popups. For the season, Dunn played in 67 games at the position and made eight errors.

Dunn acknowledged that he needs to improve his footwork around the bag.

"The main thing about last year was getting used to being on that side of the field," said Dunn who has played 194 games at first base during his career. "Even when I played right field, it's just totally, totally different. That took about three weeks to feel normal at first base. I'm not going to sit there and say I'm going to be the best ever, but I'm not going to be the worst.

"Nick got traded, [and then] you're going to play first. I'd worked over there. ... You can work on it, but we had, what, 30 minutes to work on it a day? And then you're in the game. You didn't want to get the head spinning; I'm already thinking a mile a minute. [In Spring Training], you're going to get six weeks of nothing but first base and learn it. It'll be good."

Read more: RealGM Baseball: Wiretap Archives: Dunn Working Hard Defensively At 1B