Training players for a new position

[sloanrobe]

How do you train a player for a new position? Do I just go to the Action menu and set his position to what I want?

I also need to understand how long the process usually takes for a player to become serviceable at the new position. Thanks!

[Bobbyraz49]

I tend to change player positions in spring training. It does take a while.

Just as in real life, don't expect to turn a catcher into a SS, as an example.

Enjoy the game.

[BBGiovanni]

Originally Posted by sloanrobe

How do you train a player for a new position? Do I just go to the Action menu and set his position to what I want?

I also need to understand how long the process usually takes for a player to become serviceable at the new position. Thanks!

Note that as long as someone is not useless at a position, like an outfielder that's good at RF but has no experience at LF, you can play them there a little and they won't ruin every game or anything.

You can have someone trained up about halfway by the end of spring training if you start him every day, and of course he has some ability. Like bobbyraz said if someone has no catcher arm/ability they'll never be a C, and if someone can't turn a DP they'll never be a 2B. Also I think I read somewhere a lefty will never develop at infield positions other than 1B.

[sloanrobe]

Thanks for all of the input. I have a young OF with incredible OF range and I was thinking of converting him to SS. Do you think the range might carry over to the new position?

[MathBandit]

Originally Posted by sloanrobe

Thanks for all of the input. I have a young OF with incredible OF range and I was thinking of converting him to SS. Do you think the range might carry over to the new position?

Depends on his IF range.

[sloanrobe]

I don't see his IF range because he is only listed as either LF/RF. I only see OF ratings. Is there somewhere else I can go to find it?

[sloanrobe]

Actually, scratch that. I went to his BNN page and his IF range is listed as 25. Can that increase with new positional training?

[MathBandit]

Originally Posted by sloanrobe

Actually, scratch that. I went to his BNN page and his IF range is listed as 25. Can that increase with new positional training?

If you go to "Ratings" you'll see all his fielding ratings. And generally no, they don't tend to increase much.

[Pelican]

I have found - admittedly small sample size - that there seems to be some “rhyme or reason” to position changes. Hard to convert a slow corner OF into an IF, particularly middle IF. But probably a 3B can play 1B. Similar skill set (arguably less). A good SS can likely play 2B. Or 3B. Catchers are a thing apart; but maybe corner OF if not too slow. Again don’t know if the AI considers it, but sometimes a guy has played the position in past seasons (or will in future seasons). Seems like that should make a difference.

My approach is to add the position through editor, accepting whatever awful defensive ratings, and then ideally using Spring Training or a minor league stint to train him up at the new position.

Question do you need to have player development toggled on for this to work? I would think yes, it makes sense, but don’t know. I always have it toggled on, so can’t say if the development would be slower - or nonexistent.

[NoOne]

Force prospects to play different positions they have the ability to play in minor leagues. except for the late surprises, you usually know which prospects are worth the time to take a hands on approach without doing it for too many players. (individual player strategies). I also make sure they never play hurt, take a littl emore conservative approach with pitch counts for SP etc..

if they are from a trade or a FA, ST is faster development rate for fielding, if not mistaken? worst-case you only get ST to get some exp, and it should have tolerable results... either way, it's a temporary predicament.

[sloanrobe]

I have a guy on my team that, according to our league page on Stats+, has an OF range of over 100. I am considering trying to convert him to SS, but his current IF range is around 24.

That's why I am asking all of these questions about position changes. Do you think it's worth the shot in ST to try him there, or it's not worth it since his IF range is so low.

[MathBandit]

Originally Posted by sloanrobe

I have a guy on my team that, according to our league page on Stats+, has an OF range of over 100. I am considering trying to convert him to SS, but his current IF range is around 24.

That's why I am asking all of these questions about position changes. Do you think it's worth the shot in ST to try him there, or it's not worth it since his IF range is so low.

His IF range will almost certainly not move significantly, since that's not something that changes with experience.

[CarriageTownBaseball]

All of this makes sense (and matches what I have seen after playing about 20 full seasons). I've got a player who was an infielder, but my scouting director tabbed him as being a skillful CF. I was having trouble filling that position adequately, so I made him a CF at AAA last season, played him there all spring, and he's been my primary CF all season (about to turn into June). According to his ratings, he should be pretty good out there (see image), but after 25 MLB games this season (he was hurt to start the season) in CF, he's only a 35 (exactly where he was in the spring). I've had success previously, converting a SS with a max rating of 45 to 2B, where he maxed out at 55 (but is now a 50 in his early 30s). And that didn't take anywhere near this long to get him to respectable numbers.