This infielder is shining at his new position

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding's Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- Brendan Rodgers once was a shortstop who had to change positions for an opportunity. Then he was a second baseman with shortstop tools. But on July 10, he demonstrated that his trajectory is headed toward elite status at his new position.

The Rockies led the D-backs, 3-2, with one out in the ninth when David Peralta chopped one over the head of closer Daniel Bard -- one of those that, if it becomes a hit, looks harmless until a game is lost. Rodgers took a banana path, set up momentum for the throw, then made a smooth transfer and a quick but unhurried sidearm throw to beat Peralta to the bag. It was almost not enough. The D-backs challenged the call unsuccessfully, and the Rockies won the game.

According to FanGraphs, Rodgers, who turns 26 on Aug. 9, entered the Rockies’ second-half schedule ranked second among second basemen in the Majors in defensive runs saved with nine, three behind the Cardinals’ Tommy Edman and one behind the former teammate who forced him to second base, the Red Sox’s Trevor Story. On the other side, Rodgers' seven errors tied him for third, two off the lead (Brewers' Kolten Wong).

Numbers aside, there are moments when the measure of such a transition is how the play looks, and the player’s rhythm and timing. Yes, the throw is shorter, but it’s all a sidearm whip and the fielder is not able to plant and put his momentum behind an over-the-top peg. Here’s the play and note Rodgers’ path and body position as examples of him making second his No. 1 position.

“The ball to your right, or the ball that’s chopped over the pitcher’s head and you’ve got to go to your right and charge, that’s one the shortstop doesn’t make -- the third baseman cuts you off before you make that play,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “That’s the biggest improvement that he’s had to make over the couple of years that he’s transitioned to second base.

“He’s done it wonderfully over the course of last year and this year. He’s getting better at it, getting much more confident and comfortable.”

Rodgers had his rough patch, with four errors May 13-21. But he saw improvement by adopting a routine of having third-base coach Stu Cole shoot grounders at him from a machine. He can work from his knees to practice fielding techniques alone, or stand and repeat prescribed footwork movements.

The machine drill allows him a large volume of repetitions on specific movement, without the potential wear of traditional infield practice, so he is working smarter and has reduced some of the practice during hot weather. And his dramatic offensive improvement from a .178 April has allowed him to relax and removed the temptation to take his at-bats to the field.

“It’s just the consistency of going out there and doing it every day,” said Cole, who noted that Rodgers has improved steadily over two seasons. “Great plays are going to be reaction plays. But you have to make routine plays consistently. Once he can get that down, he can end up being one of those elite defenders.”

Rodgers had several head-turning defensive plays during the Rockies’ last homestand. He dove to his right to stop a 107.1 mph one-hopper and scrambled in time to throw out the Padres’ Trent Grisham.

The pregame routine with Cole played into his backhand play against the Padres’ Manny Machado.

Experience has allowed Rodgers to transfer his old shortstop attitude to second and become an athlete with the presence to address challenging plays with savoir faire.

“I take a lot of pride in my first step -- I’m always anticipating,” Rodgers said. “I’m playing with my instincts. That’s something that I’ve done my whole life. It’s beat the ball to the spot, think what’s going to happen before it happens and be on time with my feet.”