A trip to left
Tampa Bay Rays infielder Kelly Johnson, at left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run during Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field in Bradenton.
PAUL VIDELA/Bradenton Herald
BRADENTON — Kelly Johnson spent 2005, his rookie year, in left field before elbow surgery sidelined him for an entire season.
As he rehabbed, he worked with then-Atlanta Braves coach Glenn Hubbard to make a transformation: He became a second baseman. He played there exclusively from 2007 forward. He credited Hubbard for prolonging his career by giving him a place, putting him in a position.