Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals’ new first baseman, is working to smooth position switch

VIERA, Fla. — As the fog cleared early Monday morning, Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman jogged to his new position to begin the day’s drills.

Joined on the field by manager Matt Williams, hitting coach Rick Schu, bench coach Randy Knorr and defensive coordinator Mark Weidemaier, Zimmerman fielded grounders and practiced flipping the ball to the bag. Then he practiced making the throw to second. Williams offered tips and suggestions throughout the workout, which lasted roughly an hour.

These seemingly simple drills will become routine for Zimmerman this spring. As he transitions from third base to his new position across the diamond, he must first conquer the minutiae of the job — footwork, positioning, where to move on a fly ball to center field, where to stand to complete a relay throw from right.

“It’s a process,” Williams said. “He’s played [first base] some but not a lot. He did a lot of work last year at the position, but the game reps are not really there for him. So as part of his initial introduction into this spring, we’re just going over the basics of footwork, of positioning, of his thoughts on where he would like to play, what he can and can’t do, what he feels comfortable with. So that was just a little bit of the introduction this morning.”

Williams does not expect Zimmerman to spend any time in the outfield this spring. The 30-year-old is focused only on playing first base.

“I think Zim is going to be a great defensive first baseman,” general manager Mike Rizzo said over the weekend. “He’s got great feet and great hands and the athleticism to play different positions in the infield. I saw him as a shortstop who moved to third and now a third baseman that moved to first. I see him taking to first base very smoothly and being a really good first baseman over there.”

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Zimmerman missed 98 games last season with a broken thumb, then a right hamstring strain. At times, he took grounders at first base during warmups, but the process of learning that position was somewhat rushed. He played only four games at first base all year.

“During the season, you work at it and then he goes and plays left. So it’s hard to do that,” Williams said. “But during spring anyways, we can take some time, and take our time, and go through everything. So I think he’ll be just fine.”

Williams is confident Zimmerman will be able to make the transition because of his athleticism and experience in the infield, but he knows some aspects will just take time. There’s a difference between going through the motions in practice and going through them live in a game. Zimmerman will have plenty of time to do both over the next five weeks.

“Catching the ball and making a throw or making a feed to the pitcher, or any of that stuff is fine. He’ll be able to do bunt plays great. He’s used to doing that at third base,” Williams said. “It’s just the other side of the diamond and we have to get him used to that.”