Dunn, traded from the Reds to Arizona last August and then signed to a two-year $20 million contract as a free agent by the Nationals, is back in Cincinnati for the first time in an enemy jersey, a blue one on this day.
Dunn is hitting .281 with 30 homers and 85 RBIs. The 30 homers and 85 RBIs are no surprise, but .281?
"I'm using a heavier bat and getting a lot more singles," he said. "Other than that, I have no real explanation, but I could make something up, if you want."
Dunn has worked diligently with hitting coach Rick Eckstein and it has produced results.
The 6-foot-6 and 287-pound Dunn, a disaster in waiting when he played left field for the Reds, is playing first base for the Nats and said, "I'm up in the high-rent district and it'll be harder for the fans to yell at me."
Dunn harbors no ill-will toward the Reds, understands that baseball is business, and says, "Bob Castellini (Reds owner) is one of the best people I ever met in my life."
Of his trade away from Cincinnati, Dunn said, "It caught me by surprise a little bit. They did what they thought was best for the organization. I'm not bitter at all — not bitter at all. I had an opportunity to play here since '01 and I enjoyed my time, met some great people. I don't hold grudges. It worked out for a reason and as long as both sides are happy, so be it."
When Dunn was with the Reds, there seemed to no in-between. Fans either loved him or hated him. And he understands that, too.
"Fans are fans," he said. "I jump on my fantasy team when it doesn't do good. It just means that they care a lot. That's all you can ask for. The support? That, too, is part of being a fan.
"You have fair-weather fans and you have baseball fans that support you through thick and thin," he added. "There were a lot of both here."
And what does Dunn want to do most while he is here? "Go to the zoo, man. Love the zoo here."
Somebody asked him what he misses most about Cincinnati and he smiled broadly and said, "I miss the ball park. I think it is a very, very good place to play."
He meant a place to hit home runs. And, of course, the zoo.
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