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Brewers' Roenicke: Parra 'looked comfortable' at first base

Jeff Curry / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Gerardo Parra started at first base for the first time in his professional career Monday for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was admittedly relieved that he made it through the afternoon, a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, without being tested.

"I'm happy because I had no ground balls," Parra told Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It went OK. It’s really different.

“We'll see what happens. Maybe I play it one day in the big leagues. You never know. My mind is, 'Play outfield.' But if the manager needs me to play first base, I'm going to play."

Parra, 27, has earned two Gold Glove awards in his six-year career for his fine defensive work in the outfield, but manager Ron Roenicke wants to gauge the extent of his versatility this spring.

"He looked comfortable, received balls well, so that's good," Roenicke said. "He's got good actions. It’s just figuring out where he's supposed to be all the time."

Adam Lind, acquired this offseason from the Toronto Blue Jays, is expected to start at first base against right-handed pitchers while catcher Jonathan Lucroy will start when opponents send a left-hander to the mound.
 

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