MLB Power Rankings: The 20 Most Versatile Fielders of the Last 10 Years

When you play T-Ball and Little League, you usually don't have a set position.

Sure, you might be a good fit at shortstop or the only kid on the team who doesn't hate wearing catcher's gear, but everyone still gets to—or, in some cases, has to—play pretty much everywhere.

By the time you get to pro ball, that's all changed. Your coaches might try to convert you to a new position or you might find yourself standing in an unusual spot when the benches are empty late in the game, but once you're labelled a right fielder, you're pretty much stuck in right field for life.

Not so for these guys.

In this slideshow are the 20 most versatile fielders who have played in the majors over the last 10 years.

Both depth and breadth of positions were considered in making this list—a shortstop who shifted to second base wouldn't rank very high, and neither would a third baseman who played two innings of left field as a rookie—as was the actual quality of play in the field, which eliminated guys like Ty Wigginton, Fernando Tatis and Carlos Guillen.

Be sure to let me know who I got wrong!

No. 20: Rob Mackowiak

The only position Mackowiak could play well was third base, but he still spent significant time at just about every other position on the diamond.

No. 19: Placido Polanco

Polanco's not really a super utility guy—he's played only 29 innings outside the infield in his career—but his terrific defense at both second base and third base earns him a spot here.

No. 18: Chone Figgins

Speedy though he may be, Figgins really isn't very good defensively except at third base.

Still, he's at least a passable fielder at second base and in the outfield.

No. 17: Melvin Mora

Mora's not a very good fielder (except, perhaps, in the outfield), but he's been decent enough everywhere in the field to have supported his bat.

No. 16: Willie Bloomquist

Bloomquist has never been very good outside the big green, but he has at least a half-season's worth of experience at second, third, shortstop and all three outfield positions.

No. 15: Jolbert Cabrera

Most fans who do remember Jolbert remember him for his name, but he was also an extremely valuable player to have off the bench.

He played more than 30 games at every position but catcher, playing generally solid, if somewhat underwhelming defense at each one.

No. 14: Bill Hall

Hall once made a living with his power, but now his biggest strength is his ability to play solid defense at shortstop, third base and the outfield. Heck, he even pitched last year.

Unfortunately, nowadays he's getting most of his playing time in at second base—his worst position.

No. 13: Mark DeRosa

DeRosa is a true journeyman, who's played appeared at many positions (six) as he has teams.

Originally an infielder, he can hold his own on the inner diamond and is a true defensive asset in the outfield.

No. 12: Sean Rodriguez

Sean-Rod has played every infield and outfield position in his brief MLB career, and—small though the sample size may be—he owns a positive UZR at each one.

He's looked great at second base, and he's been decent in the outfield too.

No. 11: Jerry Hairston, Jr.

Hairston has played for seven different teams in his 14-year career, and he's fit whatever need his employers have had.

He's ranged from passable to decent while playing second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield.

No. 10: Omar Infante

When Charlie Manuel was told to pick a utility player for the NL All-Star team last year, he chose Infante.

No one will ever mistake him for a Gold Glove winner, but he's at least an average defender in the infield and is capable of playing the outfield, too.

No. 9: Ryan Freel

Freel had more job stability than many of his super-sub peers (he spent six straight years with the Reds), and for good reason.

Never much with the bat, Freel was exceptionally valuable for his defense and versatility. He wasn't an elite defender in the infield, but he was great in the outfield and deserved a Gold Glove in 2006.

No. 8: Alfredo Amezaga

A true utility man, Amezaga is a Gold Glove-worthy outfielder who's also spent time at all four infield positions.

No. 7: Jamey Carroll

Carroll is turning heads with his bat this year, but he had already made a name for himself as a great utility man for his versatility.

He's a great defensive second baseman, and he's held his own at shortstop, third base and the outfield.

No. 6: Nick Punto

Make no mistake, Punto is a utility infielder. But he plays so well at three different positions that he earns a spot near the top.

He's spent roughly the same amount of time at second base (7.1 UZR/150), third base (19.4) and shortstop (18.2), truly mastering the defensive aspects of each.

No. 5: Brandon Inge

Inge has spent significant time at only two positions in his career, but he's handled two very different situations so well that he earns a spot on this list.

Initially a catcher, where he knew how to call a game, Inge was moved to third base, where he played Gold Glove-caliber defense from 2005-07. He's looked good in some brief stints in the outfield, too.

No. 4: Jose Hernandez

After a late bloom with the Brewers, the journeyman Hernandez became better known for his bat than his glove. It's a tragedy that his defense seems to have been forgotten.

Hernandez played every position except catcher, and posted a positive career Total Zone Rating at every single one.

No. 3: Ben Zobrist

Zobrist is one of the best fielders in the game at two different positions: second base (20.1 career UZR/150) and right field (25.4).

He's looked overmatched at shortstop, the only other position where he's spent significant time, but he's played generally excellent D everywhere but catcher.

No. 2: Craig Biggio

Catcher to second base to center field to left field back to second base. That's the path Biggio took around the Astros' depth chart over his Hall of Fame-worthy 20-year career.

He might not have deserved all four of his Gold Gloves and his defense really declined as he aged, but you don't get much more versatile than that.

No. 1: Darin Erstad

Erstad might not be versatile in the traditional meaning of the word—he played only first base and outfield in his MLB career—but he was so great at both that it makes up for his lack of time at other infield spots.

Total Zone has Erstad as the 22nd-best fielder of all time and 12th among outfielders. His 2002 season ranks as the second-best defensive campaign of all time. And he played a pretty mean first base, too.

He won Gold Gloves at two different positions. That's truly amazing.

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