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Desmond familiar with, unafraid of looming changes

John Leyba / Denver Post / Getty

Ian Desmond is making quite a transition for the 2017 season, moving from the southernmost state to the Mile High City.

And just one year removed from becoming an All-Star at center field - a position he'd never previously manned - Desmond is switching positions again, this time to first base.

Fear of change? Not a chance.

“Last year, I think, was enough proof, to me, to be able to do this,” Desmond said Tuesday at his introductory press conference with the Colorado Rockies, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “Not only did I transition to left field on short (notice), but then I transitioned to center field with no practice."

Of course, Desmond, who signed a monster five-year, $70-million deal with the Rockies, fell short of saying it came easy.

“I feel like I had a pretty successful time last year, with a ton of help," Desmond added. "And I believe through conversations with the Rockies that they are going to give me all the help I need to succeed there. I understand how important it is to a team to have a good first baseman.”

After playing seven seasons with the Washington Nationals, Desmond bet on himself last year, inking a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers. He needed a big season to cement himself for the foreseeable future, but was blocked at shortstop by Elvis Andrus.

Desmond's gamble paid off, however, as he crushed the ball to the tune of .285/.335/.446 with 22 home runs, 29 doubles, and 86 RBIs over 156 regular-season games.

He was always shortstop with Washington, earning an All-Star award and a splash of MVP votes in 2012. He was also a Silver Slugger award winner at the position from 2012-14.

Just don't tell Desmond that.

“Over pretty much my whole career, I didn’t label myself as a shortstop, and last year I didn’t label myself as an outfielder,” he said. “I want to be a ballplayer and someone who can help the team. I’m willing to do that. I think that’s obvious over the last couple of years."

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