Adam Dunn and Joel Hanrahan back to work with Nationals

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

VIERA, Fla. -- Left fielder Adam Dunn and closer Joel Hanrahan returned to the Nationals' Spring Training facility on Tuesday morning, two days after Team USA was eliminated by Japan in the World Baseball Classic in Los Angeles.

Both players went to work immediately. Dunn took batting practice at Space Coast Stadium, while Hanrahan pitched an inning during a Minor League game at the Nationals' training complex.

Hanrahan acknowledged he was nervous when the Classic began in Toronto, but he calmed down once Padres right-hander Jake Peavy reminded him and his bullpen mates that they were still in Spring Training mode.

"Peavy had come out [of the game] and told the bullpen guys, 'Remember, it's early Spring Training. There are 44,000 Canadians there. We are playing Team Canada,'" Hanrahan remembered. "He said it was a playoff atmosphere. 'Just be careful when you go out there, because when you try to reach back, [the velocity is] not going to be there. It's too early. Try to take a step off [the mound], relax, take a deep breath. Take it all in.' After the first outing, it wasn't too bad."

Adam Dunn and Joel Hanrahan back to work with Nationals....