SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 11: Jedd Gyorko #9 of the San Diego Padres, right, high-fives teammates after the Padres beat the Cincinnati Reds 11-6 in a baseball game at Petco Park August 11, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Jedd Gyorko had played nearly every position in the infield at the major-league level other than the one he grew up playing, but that changed on Monday.
As the Padres search for a good fit at shortstop, interim manager Pat Murphy penciled in Gyorko at the position on Monday, marking the first time he's played the position in The Show.
"Obviously Pat has confidence in me, and I have enough confidence in myself to play the position," Gyorko said. "I'm ready to go and play the game, ready to go out and make the plays, make the routine plays, and the game will take care of itself."
While he hadn't played shortstop professionally prior to Monday's game, his start at the position on Monday was hardly his first.
After all, the 26-year-old infielder played shortstop in college at West Virginia. He has predominantly played second and third base at the big-league level, and even added first base to his résumé earlier this season.
"I have played short my whole life," Gyorko said.
While he admits he'll need to make some adjustments while fielding the position for the first time in five years, he fared well at the spot on Monday, making two putouts and three assists, including an athletic diving stop that robbed Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski of a hit in the fourth inning.
"There is a longer throw and guys are going to get down the line a bit faster," Gyorko said. "My internal clock has to speed up a little bit. Other than that, just moving my feet and making a good throw."
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