SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -Michael Young is moving all over the place this spring.
He not only played his new position during the Texas Rangers’ first intrasquad game Monday, the All-Star shortstop-turned-third baseman also had a new spot in the batting order.
Young batted cleanup, behind slugger Josh Hamilton, in a lineup that consisted of the likely opening-day starters. A career .300 hitter, Young has been primarily a No. 2 or No. 3 batter the past six years and has never hit fourth in his eight-plus major league seasons.
So is this another switch for Young?
“I don’t care where I hit. I just want to hit,” Young said. “They haven’t said anything to me about (batting fourth). I don’t think it’s something that is going to happen over the course of the year until they decide to tell me something.”
Rangers manager Ron Washington, who didn’t make out the batting order for either side Monday, cautioned about trying to read too much into Young hitting fourth. Washington said new third base coach Dave Anderson made the lineup for the likely starters.
ngton said. “That’s the way (Anderson) made it. It’s not like Michael is going to shy away from swinging the bat if he hits fourth.”
With the departure of Milton Bradley in free agency after leading the AL in on-base percentage, Washington is looking to give Hamilton some protection in the batting order. Other potential cleanup hitters are right fielder Nelson Cruz, who hit a grand slam Monday, designated hitter Hank Blalock and outfielder Andruw Jones, in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Washington said he would discuss it with Young before making any plans to use him regularly in the cleanup spot.
“If Michael would hit fourth, I wouldn’t want him to change his style of hitting, thinking ’cause he’s hitting fourth he’s got to start to go deep,” Washington said. “He’s good at the way he hits. If that happens, I wouldn’t want him to change it at all.”
Young hit 12 home runs last year after connecting for only nine in 2007, and his career high was 24 in 2005. But he has averaged 94 RBIs over the past five seasons.
“I know I can hit. I’ve hit my whole career. You can make an argument for me for any spot in the lineup,” Young said. “Traditionally, I don’t have the home run numbers that 4-hitters do, but I have always been able to knock in runs.”
lalock, Cruz, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, first baseman Chris Davis and shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Young was 2-for-2, but his play at third base didn’t go as smoothly.
A Gold Glove winner at shortstop last season, Young committed a throwing error on a slow roller in the second inning.
“Mike is going to make the plays,” Washington said. “On the one he threw away, I think he knows now when he is on the run that he has to throw the ball to the inside. He tried to hit him directly and the ball tailed in a little bit. That’s an easy adjustment. That’s the first thing he said when he came off the field. He’s going to be fine.”
Andrus, the 20-year-old prospect whose ascension from Double-A led the Rangers to move Young, had the only other error in the game. Andrus was 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
Notes: Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer for the likely starters, who won 8-5. … Jones went 2-for-3. … The Rangers will play another intrasquad game Tuesday, the day before their annual charity game in Surprise against Kansas City. … RHPs Jason Jennings and Derrick Turnbow and LHP Kason Gabbard, all coming back from injuries, threw batting practice before the intrasquad game.
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