This exact thing may be happening right before our eyes.  Here are some of the numbers that make the case that Alfonso Soriano was the worst defensive second baseman in baseball in 2005:

 

       *  Most Defensive Misplays for any position in the last two years: 52

       *  Third worst Plus/Minus at second base: -22

       *  Tied for most errors at second base: 21

       *  Most fielding errors at second base: 15

 

Last year (2006), he was asked to play outfield.  At first, he was reluctant.  He was so reluctant that he refused to take the field when announced as the left fielder for the first time in a spring training game last year.  However, he warmed up to the idea and played left field everyday for the Washington Nationals.  His offense was better than ever, but his defense is what surprised everyone.

 

His inexperience in the outfield showed as he had the third most Defensive Misplays among Major League left fielders (26).  Nevertheless, he settled in and wound up tied for the most Good Fielding Plays (24).  More importantly, he was tied for second best left field Plus/Minus in MLB with +15 trailing first place leader Dave Roberts (+16).  Finally, he exhibited a throwing arm that told baserunners that he was not someone with whom they could take liberties.  He recorded 22 assists of which 15 were straight-to-the-base baserunner kills.  Both figures led baseball in all outfield positions.

 

Can he now play center field for the Cubs?  That's a bigger challenge than left field.  However, given his tremendous foot speed to cover ground and the progress in his first year as an outfielder I wouldn't doubt it.

 

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The defensive terms used in this article are from my book The Fielding Bible, but here are some brief definitions:

 

Plus/Minus -- An answer the question, “How many plays did this player make above or below those an average player at his position would make?”  The average is zero.  If a player makes one play more than the average, that’s +1.

 

Defensive Misplay -- Any play which is not an error (or a passed ball), on which the fielder surrenders a base advance, or the opportunity to make an out when a better play or a different play would have or might have gotten the out or prevented the advance. 

 

Good Fielding Play --  The counterpoint to a Defensive Misplay.  It is a play that a fielder makes when you don’t know whether he can make it or not.