Owings to pursue move from mound to first with Nationals

Micah Owings will attempt to revive his career with a position switch.

The former pitcher is switching to first base after signing with the Washington Nationals.

Owens, considered one of baseball's best-hitting pitchers, was released by the San Diego Padres in October. He missed most of the 2012 season after undergoing elbow surgery.

In six major-league seasons, he has pitched for the Padres, Arizona and Cincinnati. At the plate, he swing a solid bat, hitting .283 with a .502 slugging percentage.

With the switch to first base, Owings will have to work his way through the Nationals' minor-league system back to the majors at age 30.