Adam Dunn

Adam Dunn believes he’s on track for a bounce back season after his disappointing 2011 campaign.

“I?m going into this year feeling as good as I?ve felt in a long time and just ready to get started and quit talking about it,” Dunn said. ”It doesn?t matter where you go, everyone is talking about it. I realize that comes with [the territory], but I really can?t wait for Opening Day.” Dunn, 32, is coming off a season that saw him hit just .159/.292/.277 with 11 home runs and a .569 OPS over 496 plate appearances. He is still owed $14 million next season and $15 million in 2013 and 2014.

Adam Dunn told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times that he has been swinging the bat during the offseason.

Dunn usually doesn’t swing a bat over the winter, but he’s willing to try something different after batting just .159 in his first season with the White Sox. “I?ve been swinging the bat a little bit and doing things [working out] I?ve always done, just a little more,” said Dunn. “One of my buddies is a former minor-league guy who likes to go over there and see if he can still throw. I wouldn?t say I?m hitting five days a week. Some weeks we?ll go four times; some weeks we won?t go at all.” New White Sox manager Robin Ventura believes being a full-time designated hitter contributed to Dunn’s struggles in 2011, so it’s possible he’ll see more playing time at first base and perhaps in left field this season. It’s hard to believe things could get much worse for Dunn, so he might end up being a nice value late in mixed league drafts.