He was spoiled playing near his hometown. Then, the story went, he was miserable playing for a team far away.
Or so that’s what Nationals outfielder Austin Kearns’ ex-Reds teammate, Adam Dunn, told an Ohio newspaper last week. Kearns says don’t believe the talk.
“By no means is that statement true,” said Kearns, who grew up in Lexington, Ky., an hour from Cincinnati. “I promise you. When I saw it, I shook my head. I’m absolutely not miserable.”
The Nationals obtained Kearns in a trade with the Reds during the All-Star break. Nats General Manager Jim Bowden had drafted Kearns when he held the same position with Cincinnati.
Kearns has struggled since the trade. He’s batting .222 with one homer and an RBI in eight games; he now has 17 homers and 51 RBI for the season. But he’s had four hits in his last 10 at-bats.
And finally playing in his new home park has helped him adjust following the trade.
“I’ve been feeling better every day,” he said. “Being on the road, it felt weird. … I’m happy here. I don’t want the fans to think I’m not because this is a good place to be. It could be the best thing that happens to me.”
