Danny Espinosa is one determined fellow. And we aren't just talking about the hardihood with which he grew a mustache that could double as a character on "The Muppets."
The 28-year-old was drafted by the Washington Nationals as a shortstop but has predominantly played second base in his six years in Washington. Per The Washington Post, Espinosa is looking toward 2016 as his opportunity to return to short — and sounds as determined as anyone to start his opening day.
Espinosa reportedly told the Post:
"That’s where I’d like to play; that’s where home is for me; that’s where I’m comfortable; that’s where I grew up playing; that’s where the Nationals drafted me as, was a shortstop,” Espinosa said at Winterfest. “I moved to second base because Ian (Desmond) was there, but yeah, very confident in my abilities to play shortstop and I’d like to get back there.”
It sounds as though a move within the infield could potentially be in his future, too. Nats President of Baseballs Ops Mike Rizzo said on more than one occasion that "he wouldn’t rule anything out in regards to his roster," the Post said.
Now it's a matter of seeing what new skipper Dusty Baker thinks of Espinosa at shortstop during spring training.
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