Just as it did for Indians slugger Carlos Santana in 2014, the move from third base to first base appears to have had a positive effect at the plate for Pedro Alvarez.
The Pirates made the switch after turning down trade proposals during the offseason. Alvarez has responded with a fine start. He boasts a slash line of .308/.333/.692 with three home runs and five RBI in 26 at-bats.
It's too early to determine how well Alvarez will perform long-term at his new position. He has one error in eight games.
"There's a lot more to it [than people realize]," he told ESPN. "With every position, there's a lot of responsibility that comes with it. I've never played first before, so it's obviously all new to me. It's just a matter of getting the repetitions and the work in and having those things become second nature."
Alvarez made at least 25 errors every year from 2012 to 2014 as a third baseman. The emergence of Josh Harrison prompted his move to first.