SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -Michael Young certainly looks comfortable, even though he’s about 40 feet out of place.
He goes to his left, slides to the ground to field the ball and then scrambles to his feet for a strong throw to first base. On another play, Young cleanly fields a quick, hard bouncer right at him.
The transition from five-time All-Star and Gold Glove shortstop to third base is going well for Young and the Texas Rangers.
“He’s starting to get acclimated. He’s beginning to find out that the balls get down there on you a little quicker,” manager Ron Washington said Monday. “Catching the ball, moving into the hole, backhanding, coming in on slow rollers, he’ll handle that.”
Texas decided during the offseason to switch Young to third even though he had just won his first Gold Glove at shortstop. The move was made to make room for touted 20-year-old prospect Elvis Andrus to ascend from Double-A to the majors.
ion and asked for a trade. A few days after his request became public in mid-January, he rescinded it and started preparing to play a new position.
“It’s going fine. The obvious stuff like ground balls isn’t going to be a problem,” Young said. “It’s just kind of like letting your instincts take over, so I have a pretty good idea of where I want to play in certain situations.”
Before a day off Monday, Young started nine of the first 11 spring training games and didn’t have an error in his nine fielding chances.
“I just need to keep getting more game situations under me. That’s the key,” he said. “Batting practice is one thing and fungos are one thing, but I need to make sure I get a lot of game situations.”
There are still 3 1/2 weeks of spring training games left before the season opener at home April 6.
Young became the Rangers shortstop during spring training five years ago, volunteering to move from second base after Alex Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees. Young made the All-Star team every season at short and won his first Gold Glove when he led AL shortstops with a .984 fielding percentage (11 errors in 669 chances).
Despite two broken fingers and a lingering groin problem, Young played 155 games last season. Those injuries have healed.
“I feel great. It’s a complete 180 from last year,” Young said. “Two broken fingers in one season is kind of weird.”
While Young adjusts to his new position, Andrus has been solid at shortstop, playing in all but one game this spring. He had only a throwing error in his first 32 chances.
“I’m just trying to get my timing, my footwork, defense, just trying to get everything together,” Andrus said. “So far, it’s been pretty good. I feel great. My body feels good and I feel I get more and more relaxed every day. That’s what I’m looking for.”
Washington said Young, All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler and 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel have all helped Andrus adjust to his new role. Vizquel is in camp on a minor league contract and was purposely given a locker next to Andrus.
Andrus, who came over from Atlanta in the Mark Teixeira trade in July 2007, hit .295 with four home runs, 65 RBIs and 56 stolen bases in 118 games for Double-A Frisco last season. He had a .944 fielding percentage with 32 errors.
“He’s young, but he certainly has an idea of how to play the game,” Washington said. “He has tremendous instincts for a young kid and he’s learning a lot that he didn’t know about playing shortstop. … The kid wants to do well. We’ve just got to make sure we keep him in a relaxed frame of mind and he will do well.”
out of the youngster’s ear.
“I want him out there smiling and having fun,” Washington said. “There’s some things he has to be responsible for. When he’s not responsible for it, we will let him know. So far we haven’t had to let him know anything.”
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