Padres' Middlebrooks, Solarte competing, getting along at third base
Padres thirdbasemen Will Middlebrooks and Yangervis Solarte are both battling to get the starting nod at third base during spring training, but the two are getting along just fine so far, reports UTSanDiego.com.
"I'm trying to help him, he's trying to help me," Middlebrooks said. "We're working together, we're having fun and we're competing. It's for the team, and I think it'll be good if we both push each other."
Middlebrooks hit .191 with two home runs and 19 RBI in 215 plate appearances for the Red Sox in 2014.
He is also okay if he ends up playing a different position down the line.
"Third base is the priority," he said, "but wherever I can get in the lineup, wherever I can help us win some baseball games, that's what's important for me."
Meanwhile, Solarte is doing what he can to help Middlebrooks adjust to his new surroundings.
"That's competing," Solarte said. "For me, it's my teammate. I want to work hard with him and make it fun, too."
