Playing Out Of Position & Position Changes

Playing out of Position

When a player plays outside their "natural" position, their defensive skills are less effective. Range (RA) and Glove (GL) ratings are adjusted based on the relative difficulty of the new position compared to their natural position, as shown in the chart below.

Position Difficulty Chart (Harder ← Easier)
SS ← 2B ← CF ← 3B ← LF/RF ← 1B

Moving to a harder position (←) reduces effectiveness significantly.
Moving to an easier position (→) reduces effectiveness slightly.

Steps Moved | Harder (←) | Easier (→)

1 Step | -10% | -8%
2 Steps | -19% | -6%
3 Steps | -27% | -4%
4 Steps | -34% | -2%
5 Steps | -40% | 0%

Examples:

A 75 RA CF playing SS moves 2 steps left (harder), reducing range by 19% to 61 RA.
The same 75 RA CF playing LF moves 2 steps right (easier), reducing range by 6% to 71 RA.

Special Cases:

Non-Catchers Playing Catcher: Non-Catchers playing as Catchers face severe penalties to their defensive ratings:

Range (RA) and Glove (GL): -34%
Arm (AR): -75%

Catchers Moving to Other Positions: Catchers moving to other positions are treated as moving one step to the right of 1B on the difficulty chart.

Additional Penalties for Left-Handed Players Left-handed throwing players at 2B, 3B, or SS face additional penalties:

Range (RA): -20%
Glove (GL): -10%
Arm (AR): -40%

Note: Left-handed catchers will experience additional arm penalties on stolen base attempts, depending on the batter's handedness and the base being stolen.

Permanent Position Changes

If a player will be playing out of position extensively, consider a permanent position change. This can be done using the Change Position tool on the player card. Changes take immediate effect, with Range and Glove ratings updated accordingly.

Effects of Permanent Position Changes

Moving to a harder position: Potential ratings drop less than actual ratings, reflecting the player’s ability to improve over time.
Moving to an easier position: Potential ratings may increase, especially for young players transitioning from skill-intensive positions (e.g., SS → LF).

Steps Moved | Harder (←) | Easier (→)

1 Step | -8% | +8%
2 Steps | -14% | +14%
3 Steps | -20% | +20%
4 Steps | -26% | +26%
5 Steps | -30% | +30%

Exceptions for Permanent Changes

Left-handed throwing players cannot switch to 2B, 3B, or SS.
Non-catchers cannot become Catchers permanently.

Summary of Key Points

Playing out of position reduces defensive ratings.
The closer the new position is on the Position Difficulty Chart, the smaller the penalty.
Non-catchers playing Catcher face severe penalties.
Permanent position changes allow players to adjust over time, but some restrictions apply.

Playing Out Of Position & Position Changes