AUBURN — Dane Dunning doesn’t feel any extra pressure associated with the ‘first-rounder’ tag. Dunning, of Fleming Island, a graduate of Clay High School and most recently a junior pitcher at the University of Florida, was drafted in the Major League Baseball draft last month and was added to the Auburn Doubledays roster Monday and tossed three scoreless innings in his New York-Penn League debut Thurs., July 7 in New York. The Doubledays are the Class A Short Season minor league squad for the Washington Nationals who drafted Dunning.

Dunning is focused on sticking with what has worked for him and hopes that translates to wins with the Doubledays.

“In my opinion, you’re a first-rounder for a reason,” Dunning said. “You have to live up to your potential, but really, it’s just going out there and having fun. There’s no pressure. I’ve been playing the same game since I was a little kid. I just need to do the same thing I’ve been doing the whole time.”

For Doubledays manager Jerad Head, where a player is drafted doesn’t matter. The expectations for Dunning are the same as any other Auburn player.

“It’s no different than any other guy in the clubhouse,” Head said. “He knows what’s expected and what he’s here to do.”

Dunning primarily worked out of the bullpen in his junior season with the Gators. The 6-4 right-hander made five starts in 33 appearances totaling 78 2/3 innings. He struck out 88 and registered a 2.29 ERA, a 6-3 record and two saves.

After he was taken by Washington in the first round of the MLB Draft, Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline said the Dunning would be used as a starter. Before his assignment to Auburn, the 21-year-old tossed two hitless innings with three Ks in one appearance for the Gulf Coast League Nationals.

“Starting, relieving, closing — it doesn’t matter to me,” Dunning said. “As long as I get to pitch and help the team win, I’m OK with it. For right now, they’re putting me as a starter and that’s a good thing to be.”

Like any pitcher coming off a college season, Dunning’s innings will be built up throughout the summer.

“They said that they were going to take it slow and not run me out there for a lot of innings since I threw so many in college,” said Dunning, who is from Orange Park, Florida. “They’re going to keep it slow for next season. In my first full pro season, I’ll be in a better position. Right now they’re building me up slow.”

When it comes to goals for this summer, Dunning’s approach is straightforward.

“Just try to get the team W’s,” Dunning said. “It’s that plain and simple.”

Sports writer Jeremy Houghtaling can be reached at jeremy.houghtaling@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @CitizenHough.