Desmond Gets First Go-Around in Left Field

Ian Desmond is trying for his best Mike Napoli impression this spring, he's just hoping to be a whole lot better than that failed outfield experiment with Napoli last season.

Desmond should be much better in left field, even though the career shortstop has never played the position in the pros, simply because he's more of an athletic player than Napoli. Until Thursday's game against the White Sox, Desmond had yet to get a chance in left field.

That all changed on Thursday.

In the first inning, a fly ball made its way into left center field with both Desmond and Delino DeShields converging on the ball. Desmond called off DeShields, but at the last minute he backed away and let the ball fall between them.

"For those two guys to learn their range and space, it's going to be a learning experience," Rangers skipper Jeff Banister told reporters after the game.

Later in the game, Desmond did make a play in left field, catching a fly ball for his first putout since making the transition from shortstop after signing his one-year, $8 million deal with the Rangers.

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