Dunning "extremely grateful" to be selected by the Nats

The Nationals went to the college ranks with their second selection in Thursday's night's first round of the First-Year Player Draft

And as it turned out, seven of their first nine selections were from Division I college baseball.

With the 29th pick, the Nats selected right-hander Dane Dunning out of the University of Florida.

The Gators are in the NCAA super regionals against Florida State this weekend. The winner gets a ticket to Omaha and the College World Series. Florida's starting pitching was so good on this 50-13 squad, that Dunning, a 6-foot-3, 205 lb. junior, was primarily used out of the bullpen.

He made only five starts in 29 appearances, posting a 2.50 ERA and a 5-3 record with two saves. He struck out 78 batters and walked only 11.

Dunning's best pitch is his fastball.

"My fastball's got a lot of life to it, as said on TV," Dunning said in a conference call with reporters this evening. "It's probably my best pitch. I've got good run to my fastball. It's usually four to six inches the majority of the time. Lately, it's been sitting 94 or 95 mph.

"It helps, when it comes to off-speed, if I can locate off-speed as well as I should, then my fastball plays up higher to get people off my fastball. Then I can use my fastball and it's a lot more effective."

Dunning was not disappointed with having to pitch in relief on such a deep staff at Florida. But that is not to say that it was easy for him as he tried to be part of the starting rotation.

"I loved every bit of it. Being a part of a team that had such an unbelievable pitching staff this year, ... it was very humbling," Dunning said. "It was a little difficult at the same time because everyone was fighting for a job.

"Everyone wants to start and stuff like that. It was a little difficult at the start of the year just finding a role, but once I discovered my role coming out of the bullpen for the team, everything kind of fell into place as it should. I love the experience that I got from going here. I was able to start and go out of the 'pen. I got a little taste of both. I absolutely loved it."

And that makes the Nationals' announcement that they would groom Dunning exclusively as a starter a big enticement for the draft pick.

"Extremely grateful that they are fortunate enough to let me become a starter," Dunning said. "I've always wanted to be a starter my whole entire life. Either way, I'm really happy with my decision, but being able to start is a dream come true."

As the pre-draft talk played out, Dunning wondered where he might be selected. But he had no idea the Nats would show so much confidence in him so early.

"I'm extremely grateful that the Nats were taking me," Dunning said. "My expectations? I was kind of thinking first or second round. I talked to the Nats a little bit during the period, but not as much as I thought. I was actually kind of a little bit surprised that they took me at the spot they did and I'm extremely grateful that they did."

The Nats called him a few minutes before the official announcement. Dunning was able to keep his life-changing news away from his parents so they could find out by watching the live TV broadcast of the draft.

"I was ecstatic when I was taken, I was really happy," Dunning said. "I was sitting at my house, I didn't tell any of my folks, so they kind of got surprised when it came up on TV. I am extremely blessed just to be taken where I was at."

Dunning is also in a rarified place as a junior pitcher for such a good team. Not only has he been selected in the draft, but his team needs just one more series win to make it all the way to the final eight in Omaha.

"Throughout the season, I tried not to really think about the draft at all. I just kind of went out there and tried to win games for my team," Dunning said. "This past week, after regionals and all that, was really the first time I sat down and talked to my parents and talked to my advisor just about how the draft is going to play out.

"It hasn't really been too hectic. I just had a short conversation about it, just going about my business, just going to practice, working hard. We got Florida State coming up here in the supers. I'm excited about that."

But even with the enviable distraction of the super regionals, the most pressing item on his agenda, Dunning believes he will sign with the Nationals when his college season eventually ends.

"Yes, sir, I do," Dunning when asked whether he'd go pro or return to college next year. "I still gotta finish out my season and hopefully be able to go to the College World Series and everything."